The Snow Mountain Elder had just finished speaking.
The scenery before Zhang Ergou's eyes changed again, and the bluestone steps instantly disappeared.
In their place was a gaping maw.
Zhang Ergou couldn't even see the full extent of the monstrous mouth.
*Swish!*
Without a word, Zhang Ergou gripped his iron spear, his gaze wary as he looked at the fearsome-looking creature.
"Roar~~"
Following a clear beastly roar, a stench of blood mingled with putridness washed over him.
Zhang Ergou quickly held his breath and retreated. This unknown creature gave him a sense of great danger.
Only after retreating a full ten zhang did Zhang Ergou get a clear view of the creature's full form.
It was a giant python.
Strike the snake at its seven-inch vital point. Whether this giant python was an illusion or real,
Zhang Ergou decided not to wait any longer. Who knew what else awaited him if he lingered.
It was then that Zhang Ergou became truly interested in the unseen daughter of the city lord.
A mere illusion formation had nearly trapped him.
If not for the Snow Mountain Elder's reminder, he would likely have been eliminated.
This also ignited Zhang Ergou's competitive spirit.
Raising his long spear, Zhang Ergou flew forward, aiming directly for the giant python's heart.
*Bang!*
With a loud thud, before the giant python could react, Zhang Ergou, seizing the initiative, stabbed it with his spear.
Its massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up dust.
Having killed the giant python, Zhang Ergou didn't have time to rest before the scenery before his eyes shifted once more.
Now, a peach blossom forest appeared before Zhang Ergou.
A faint scent of peach blossoms wafted towards him, instantly sending Zhang Ergou into a daze.
Then, Zhang Ergou saw an old man walking towards him.
"Grandpa."
Instantly, Zhang Ergou's face was covered in tears. Wasn't this his own grandfather standing before him?
Suddenly, Zhang Ergou remembered something and his body trembled.
His pupils contracted, and his long spear thrust forward, aiming directly for the approaching person's head.
As the tip of the spear brushed against "Grandpa's" neck, the figure opposite him dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.
Zhang Ergou, however, broke out in a cold sweat.
He had almost fallen victim to the illusion. If he hadn't woken up at the critical moment,
he would likely be dead by now.
Now, he finally began to take the formations set by the city lord's daughter seriously.
The formations set by this Mu Xian'er were not mere level-six formations.
They directly targeted the cultivator's inner heart.
Just moments ago, Zhang Ergou had nearly lost his mind to the illusion.
The figure vanished, and Zhang Ergou continued to gaze warily at his surroundings.
However, things did not unfold as Zhang Ergou had anticipated.
The peach blossom forest remained, and the scent of blossoms continued to drift into his nostrils.
"Zhang Ergou, you've been away from the sect for so long, won't you come back to see me?"
"Sister Cui Lan." Zhang Ergou hurried forward.
As he spoke, he moved to embrace her. Just as he reached out, Liu Cuilan's face displayed a triumphant expression.
"Hmph, you think the same trick will work on me again."
Zhang Ergou snorted coldly. His outstretched hand shifted from an embrace to a grasp, and he seized "Liu Cuilan's" neck.
"Zhang Ergou, what are you doing? Let go quickly, that's your junior sister."
Just as he grabbed "Liu Cuilan's" neck, another figure appeared beside him, calling out urgently.
The person who arrived was Liu Cuilan's master, Chi Ling.
"Uncle-Master?" Zhang Ergou was suddenly confused, as the scene before him had now transformed into what looked like the Lingyu Peak of the Misty Sect.
"What are you all arguing about? Zhang Ergou, you're back?"
As Zhang Ergou was in a dilemma, another voice sounded from behind him, filled with surprise.
"Master?" Su Dan Novel Network
The hand gripping "Liu Cuilan's" neck lost its strength.
The people before him were all his closest kin.
"Zhang Ergou, what are you doing? Hurry and release your junior sister."
Chi Yu, who had appeared behind Zhang Ergou, saw him holding Liu Cuilan's neck and urged him quickly.
Hearing Chi Yu's words, Zhang Ergou hastily released his grip on Liu Cuilan.
"Sister Cui Lan, I apologize. I was impulsive."
The moment Zhang Ergou let go, Chi Yu, Chi Ling, and Liu Cuilan moved almost simultaneously.
Each of them struck towards Zhang Ergou's vital points.
"Hmph, you really think I wouldn't see through your scheme?"
With a cold laugh, Zhang Ergou brandished his long spear and ended the life of the closest "Liu Cuilan" with a single thrust.
Then, Zhang Ergou's offensive did not wane. He tilted the tip of his spear and pierced "Chi Yu's" heart with another thrust.
He then turned, swung his long spear, and mercilessly smashed it towards "Chi Ling's" head.
Seeing the three white foxes lying on the ground, Zhang Ergou quickly held his breath.
It was precisely because of the faint scent of peach blossoms that he had almost been deceived.
If he hadn't been so familiar with Liu Cuilan, Chi Yu, and Chi Ling, Zhang Ergou wouldn't have woken up so quickly.
Zhang Ergou's expression was grave, and he vigilantly surveyed his surroundings.
After a long while, no one else appeared.
His prediction was correct. It was all the faint scent of peach blossoms at work.
Knowing the root cause, Zhang Ergou did not hesitate and headed straight for the peach blossom forest.
Upon seeing the most conspicuous peach tree in the forest, Zhang Ergou began hacking at it without a second thought.
With a shift in scenery, the peach blossom forest vanished in an instant.
Now, a city appeared before Zhang Ergou.
However, this city exuded an eerie aura. Zhang Ergou found no living beings within it.
The dark clouds in the sky seemed oppressive.
From afar, Zhang Ergou spotted something on the ground.
As he approached, Zhang Ergou nearly vomited.
Even with his composure, he was disgusted by what he saw.
What lay before him, a dense mass, was not other than headless corpses.
There were tens of thousands of them.
However, the moment Zhang Ergou approached the headless corpses, they instantly came to life.
They rose to their feet and lunged towards Zhang Ergou.
Seeing the headless corpses charging at him, Zhang Ergou's scalp tingled.
Enduring the nausea, Zhang Ergou tightly gripped his long spear.
But what happened next left Zhang Ergou dumbfounded.
No matter how he tried to kill these headless corpses, it was useless.
He stabbed them with his spear, yet they seemed not to feel pain.
They continued to swing their arms and lunge at him.
Helpless, Zhang Ergou soared into the air and unleashed a palm strike towards the swarming headless corpses.
Instantly, the heavens and earth changed color, and the wind roared.
The massive palm print landed on the ground, leaving a deep crater.
However, to Zhang Ergou's surprise, although he had repelled the headless corpses,
he had not inflicted any substantial damage upon them.
Climbing out of the crater, the headless corpses once again lunged towards Zhang Ergou.
Zhang Ergou's brow furrowed as he looked at the dense mass of headless corpses.