After the previous few rounds of competition, it was soon Zhang Ergou's turn to face Jiang Yu.
"Who do you think will win this match, Jiang Yu or Zhang Ergou?"
"It'll definitely be Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu is already half a step into Nascent Soul. Although Zhang Ergou performed exceptionally well earlier, he's too young."
"I agree. No matter how strong Zhang Ergou is, he's only at the peak of the late Golden Core stage. There's still a gap between him and Jiang Yu."
As Zhang Ergou and Jiang Yu stepped onto the stage, the discussions from below did not cease.
The murmurs of the crowd reached both their ears without exception.
Jiang Yu let out a faint smile, clearly agreeing with what was being said.
He had been looking forward to facing Zhang Ergou for a long time, but only now did their paths cross.
However, it wasn't too late. In this match, Zhang Ergou was destined to be defeated by his hand.
Among the remaining dozen or so participants, Jiang Yu considered Zhang Ergou his greatest threat.
Thinking of what Zhang Ergou had done to Jiang Tian and Jiang Xu, a flash of hatred crossed Jiang Yu's face.
Zhang Ergou, naturally, heard every word of the crowd's discussion.
Yet, he showed no expression, maintaining his usual calm demeanor, as if they were discussing someone else.
In Jiang Yu's eyes, Zhang Ergou's composure was merely a pretense.
"Brother Hua, who do you favor between these two youngsters?"
Seeing Zhang Ergou and Jiang Yu standing on the stage, Mu Chen couldn't help but speak again, his expression seemingly conflicted.
"Who do you think will win, Brother Mu?"
Hua Xu didn't answer directly but retorted, yet his serene posture suggested he already knew the outcome.
"Although I have high hopes for this kid Zhang Ergou, and I wish him victory, he's simply too young. There's still a certain gap between him and this young man from the Jiang family."
In Mu Chen's opinion, at his young age, the late Golden Core stage was Zhang Ergou's limit.
"Brother Mu, you're getting bogged down by superficialities. We have cultivated for hundreds of years; how can we judge strength by age alone?"
Hua Xu chuckled, clearly disagreeing with Mu Chen's assessment.
"So, Brother Hua, you're backing that kid Zhang Ergou?"
Mu Chen's eyes sharpened. Hua Xu's cultivation was a realm higher than his. Had he seen something?
However, he was also quite confident in his own judgment.
"In that case, shall we make a small wager, you and I?"
"What shall be the stakes?" Hua Xu didn't refuse.
"A middle-grade spirit vein," Mu Chen nodded slightly.
"Brother Mu is too stingy. Two high-grade spirit veins, plus an eighth-grade pill."
"Hiss!"
Before Mu Chen could reply, gasps of cold air erupted from the surrounding crowd.
"Agreed, it's a deal." Mu Chen accepted after a brief consideration.
"Haha, thank you for your generosity, Brother Mu."
With that, Hua Xu even cupped his fists.
Mu Chen rolled his eyes. "The outcome hasn't been decided yet; who knows who will win or lose. Don't celebrate too early, Brother Hua."
If Zhang Ergou knew that these two prominent figures were betting two high-grade spirit veins and an eighth-grade pill on his and Jiang Yu's match, he would surely have thoughts.
He had focused solely on cultivation all these years, and most of the medicinal herbs he obtained in the secret realms had been refined into pills and consumed.
However, the amount of spirit stones he possessed wasn't much.
If he had known they were gambling two high-grade spirit veins, Zhang Ergou would have shamelessly asked for half a vein.
Those were high-grade spirit veins!
Who would say no to more wealth?
Of course, this was all happening without Zhang Ergou's knowledge.
Meanwhile, on the stage, the tension was palpable. The two seemed to be facing mortal enemies.
"Jiang Yu of the Western Region Jiang family, I request your guidance."
Despite deeply hating Zhang Ergou, Jiang Yu still had the breeding to announce his name.
"Zhang Ergou, I request your guidance." Zhang Ergou didn't mention his origin. Su Dan Novel Network.
After all, he knew of the relationship between Jiang Tian and Jiang Yu.
He was certain they would also know he was from the Misty Sect. If he then declared he was from the Canglang Sect, it would expose his lie.
With so many powerful figures present, Zhang Ergou didn't want to be branded as dishonest.
As soon as Zhang Ergou finished speaking, Jiang Yu attacked without the slightest hesitation.
It seemed he didn't want to give Zhang Ergou any chance to react.
Zhang Ergou let out a cold laugh, knowing Jiang Yu's intentions without needing to guess.
Jiang Yu swung his sword, thrusting it towards Zhang Ergou. Zhang Ergou simply watched him coldly, not even considering defense.
"Hmph, feigning a mystery."
The scene unfolding before them seemed familiar. It was the same posture Zhang Ergou had adopted when facing Jiang Xu back then.
No one dared to say that Zhang Ergou was startled by Jiang Yu's strike and had forgotten to defend.
They speculated if Zhang Ergou's strength was significantly higher than Jiang Yu's.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so careless.
Hiss!
Another round of gasps echoed across the plaza.
If, as everyone speculated, Zhang Ergou's cultivation was even higher than Jiang Yu's half-step Nascent Soul stage, wouldn't that mean...
The crowd shook their heads, dismissing the thought.
It was more likely that Zhang Ergou possessed a defensive artifact, which was why he was so nonchalant.
As for Zhang Ergou breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, in their opinion, it was as fantastical as a fantasy.
How old was Zhang Ergou? Even if he had started cultivating in the womb, breaking through to Nascent Soul in twenty years would be an exceptional talent. Wouldn't any family with such a prodigy publicize it widely?
If these people knew that Zhang Ergou had only been cultivating for four years, what would their reactions be?
While everyone was busy guessing wildly,
In a flash of lightning, Jiang Yu's attack reached Zhang Ergou.
To everyone's surprise, not only did Jiang Yu's attack cause no harm to Zhang Ergou, but his strike also vanished into thin air just before reaching Zhang Ergou.
The crowd was perplexed but couldn't articulate why.
Jiang Yu frowned. Although it was just a probing strike, he had used sixty percent of his strength, yet it hadn't inflicted the slightest damage on Zhang Ergou.
He felt a sense of unease.
"Again!"
Jiang Yu roared and raised his long sword, thrusting it at Zhang Ergou once more.
After a flurry of dazzling sword techniques, the entire stage was engulfed in smoke.
Two figures could faintly be seen on the stage, but the crowd couldn't distinguish who was Zhang Ergou and who was Jiang Yu.
However, the powerful figures on the main platform could see perfectly clearly.
They possessed formidable divine senses and could perceive everything that was happening without the need for their eyes.
Though the elders could see clearly, they remained silent.
Because as Jiang Yu launched a series of attacks, Zhang Ergou hadn't moved, nor had he taken any defensive measures.
Yet, Jiang Yu was unable to break through Zhang Ergou's defense.
In the end, Zhang Ergou even caught Jiang Yu's long sword with his bare hand.
Clang!
A sound of metal clashing reverberated, and everyone's expression changed.
What kind of hand could catch a long sword bare-handed without any injury, and even produce the sound of metal striking?
Hua Xu, Mu Chen, and the other elders furrowed their brows.
"This kid, could he be a body cultivator?" Hua Xu, uncertain of his guess, turned to look at Mu Chen.
Mu Chen shook his head; he was also somewhat bewildered.
If Zhang Ergou were a body cultivator, then everything he had done before would make sense.
But even if he was a body cultivator, what level had his body refinement reached?
After all, Jiang Yu was already at the half-step Nascent Soul stage, and few could rival him below the Golden Core realm.
The implications were chilling.
Hua Xu and Mu Chen exchanged glances, seeing shock in each other's eyes.
Body cultivation was far more difficult than standard cultivation.
Progress in cultivation was incomparable to that of magical cultivation, which was why few people in the current cultivation world chose the path of body cultivation.
Unless one had poor spiritual roots, few would endure such hardship.
Seeing that Zhang Ergou was a body cultivator, not only Hua Xu and Mu Chen,
But even the elders behind them were astonished.
However, Li Kongcai among them frowned. He had directly sparred with Zhang Ergou not long ago.
At that time, Zhang Ergou had used magical techniques.
Based on Zhang Ergou's current performance, he was clearly a body cultivator.
Could this kid be both a body and magical cultivator?
Li Kongcai was astonished by his own discovery. If this were true, then this matter must be reported to the Sect Master as soon as possible.
Such a genius, not only having reached the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age,
But also being a body cultivator, and judging by his performance, his body refinement realm must be quite high.
If Zhang Ergou were allowed to continue developing like this,
It would undoubtedly spell trouble for the Liuhai Sect.