With a 'bang!', Zhang Ergou directly met the Kai Shan Seal with a punch, emitting a loud sound.
The Kai Shan Seal was then smashed, and Zhang Ergou lunged forward.
Zhang Ergou, now fully unleashed, had his eyes red with killing intent. Before the disciple could react, Zhang Ergou punched him in the face. Stars erupted before his eyes as he grunted and retreated.
"Fù Shēn Tǔ Shù!" This disciple, like Yu Heng lying on the ground, was a cultivator with an earth spiritual root.
However, his cultivation was below Yu Heng's.
Despite having been through continuous battles, Zhang Ergou was not afraid of those whose cultivation was not much higher than his own.
He attacked without reservation.
As he retreated, the disciple attacked again. Soon, uneven but connected earth walls appeared in rows on the training ground, encircling Zhang Ergou.
Like earth snakes, they moved with Zhang Ergou's movements.
'Clang!'
Zhang Ergou drew the iron spear from his back and, with exquisite footwork, flicked the spear, severing the moving earth snakes.
Then, in a few quick steps, he reached the disciple and thrust his spear downwards.
"Tǔ Dùn!" Seeing this, the disciple shouted and vanished with a 'swoosh'.
"Where are you hiding?" Zhang Ergou thrust the tip of his spear into the ground and stomped heavily.
'Boom!'
The disciple who had just used Tǔ Dùn was shaken out, flying upwards.
Zhang Ergou was incredibly fast. Before the disciple could land, he delivered a powerful kick in mid-air.
'Bang!'
A tremendous sound echoed, and smoke billowed from the ground. The disciple was kicked off the training ground and landed with a thud, creating a large pit.
"Too brutal!"
"Zhang Ergou is truly a beast, not human!"
"Autumn Sun Peak has lost so much face. Their consecutive challengers have been defeated. The Peak Lord of Autumn Sun Peak must be furious."
The spectators' area erupted in lively discussion.
'Zheng!'
'Zheng!'
Two sword lights flashed as more disciples from Autumn Sun Peak charged forward.
'Clang!'
'Clang!'
Zhang Ergou met them with his spear, shattering the two sword lights. He then rapidly retreated. The disciple inexplicably threw out smoke, and the training ground was instantly enveloped in a dense fog, obscuring the view for everyone in the spectators' area.
'Bang!'
'Clang!'
'Clang!'
Amidst the smoky training ground, a continuous barrage of sounds indicated Zhang Ergou was fiercely battling the disciple.
"This Illusory Smoke… I wonder if Zhang Ergou can break through it?"
"I've heard this Illusory Smoke has caused many to suffer greatly. Even disciples with considerable cultivation have stumbled because of it."
"Zhang Ergou is in for a tough time now."
'Bang!'
A loud explosion from the training ground silenced the discussion in the spectators' area.
Then, a figure covered in blood and grime flew out and, upon landing, fainted.
"Tsk, I can't bear to watch. This person has been beaten half to death by Zhang Ergou again…"
A while later, the smoke dissipated, revealing Zhang Ergou's figure.
"Is Zhang Ergou injured?"
Many noticed a bloodstain on Zhang Ergou's back and a sword wound on his shoulder.
"Exhaust Zhang Ergou." Another disciple from Autumn Sun Peak charged onto the training ground, giving Zhang Ergou no time to rest.
The battle immediately resumed.
"Damn it, Autumn Sun Peak, do you have any shame? The disciples from Summer Sun Peak have more integrity than you."
A voice rang out, belonging to the chubby Xiong Bao, his face flushed with anger.
However, the disciple from Autumn Sun Peak seemed to ignore his cry and immediately charged towards Zhang Ergou in the center of the training ground.
This disciple was slightly stronger than Zhang Ergou had anticipated. What made it even harder for Zhang Ergou to defend against was that this disciple employed various profound techniques.
By the time Zhang Ergou managed to repel the disciple, he had sustained several more wounds.
"Die!" Another inner disciple from Summer Sun Peak stepped forward, launching a killing blow.
Zhang Ergou struggled to fend him off. The continuous battles had left him covered in wounds. Each time he defeated an inner disciple, Zhang Ergou would sustain several noticeable injuries.
"Damn it, these guys are shameless! If this continues, Zhang Ergou will be beaten to death."
Little Fatty Xiong Bao clenched his fists, his face full of rage.
"If you want to fight, then fight!"
Zhang Ergou, his hair disheveled, leaned on his ghost spear Tian Wen, his body covered in blood, appearing terrifying.
The resonant sound echoed throughout the training ground.
Like an unkillable cockroach, Zhang Ergou stood stubbornly on the training ground, trading injuries for injuries to once again kick an inner disciple off the platform.
The disciples of Summer Sun Peak and Autumn Sun Peak in the stands had grim expressions.
Watching Zhang Ergou still standing on the platform, each of them wore a complex look. These were the most talented disciples from Summer Sun Peak and Autumn Sun Peak.
Each of them had cultivation beyond Zhang Ergou's and was considered a rising star.
Yet today, they were being kicked off the training ground one by one by Zhang Ergou, who was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage. For a moment, they found it hard to accept.
This was not just a physical blow; it was their pride being trampled upon.
"Trash, a bunch of trash!" Another furious roar erupted from Summer Sun Peak.
The disciple who came to report the news trembled in fear, prostrating himself on the ground, afraid to look up.
Qiu Yang San Ren was no better. Upon hearing the report, he flew into a rage and smashed a jade object in his hand to pieces.
Zhang Ergou's performance had unsettled both Peak Lords, and their jealousy towards Chun Yang San Ren grew deeper.
Unlike them, Dong Yang San Ren had already rushed to Chun Yang Peak to congratulate Chun Yang San Ren. The two of them chatted and laughed, showing no concern for Zhang Ergou's safety.
"Brother Chun Yang, you've struck gold this time. Zhang Ergou's performance is truly beyond expectations. He will likely shine in the outer sect competition and might even become this year's biggest dark horse."
"You flatter me, Junior Brother. I think this lad Ergou is just a bit too tough. He can't shoulder great responsibility and is still far behind the inner disciples of your main peaks."
Chun Yang San Ren smiled, but his words made Dong Yang San Ren inwardly grumble.
'What a show-off. If you think Zhang Ergou is no good, you can give him to me.'
Seeing his smug expression, if Dong Yang San Ren hadn't been unable to defeat him, he would have punched him a few times.
'Bang!'
On the training ground, another disciple was thrown off the platform by Zhang Ergou.
"The tenth one!" The spectators in the stands swallowed with difficulty, their gazes fixed on Zhang Ergou with newfound awe.
"Zhang Ergou has completely severed ties with Summer Sun and Autumn Sun Peaks now. The disciples of both peaks hate him to the bone."
"Zhang Ergou likely feels the same way towards them."
On the training ground, Zhang Ergou was bleeding profusely, his body covered in wounds, flesh torn open, a truly terrifying sight.
After several rounds of grueling battles, even with the support of his Dan Hai, Zhang Ergou's spiritual energy was completely depleted.
"Zhang Ergou, hurry up and leave! If you keep fighting, something serious will happen," Little Fatty Xiong Bao rushed onto the training ground and grabbed Zhang Ergou's arm, urging him to go.
Zhang Ergou nodded with difficulty. His current physical condition was indeed not suitable for staying there any longer.
Just as Zhang Ergou was about to leave, a disciple with a sinister, effeminate demeanor stepped forward.