Unending streams of heaven and earth essence surged towards the battle stage, seemingly without regard for life or limb.
Elders from the major peaks of the Misty Sect's inner disciples extended their spiritual senses to investigate. Upon discovering Zhang Ergou at the center of the stage, each wore a look of profound contemplation.
"Who is this brat? He looks utterly unfamiliar."
An elder transmitted telepathically to his neighbor, clearly seeing Zhang Ergou for the first time.
"Never seen him. Never heard of a powerful disciple emerging in the inner sect. Could he be from the batch that just joined this year?"
The elder who was asked was also in seclusion for an extended period and was unaware of the sect's changes over the past half-year. Furthermore, the inner sect recruited a large number of disciples from the outer sect every three years, and they had no interest in such matters.
"Let's go ask that old fellow Tian Dao. He seemed to be in charge of the inner sect's new disciple recruitment this year. He must know."
Hearing their conversation, it became apparent that they were old monsters on par with Tian Dao, who was a Nascent Soul stage Great Cultivator.
...
The abnormal phenomenon caused by Zhang Ergou's breakthrough not only attracted the attention of those reclusive old monsters but also left an even greater shock upon the onlookers.
"Holy hell, is Zhang Ergou trying to die? Isn't he afraid of bursting his dantian?"
"The commotion caused by our breakthroughs pales in comparison to what Zhang Ergou is causing now. It's like comparing a firefly to the sun."
Even the experts on the inner sect rankings, who were hiding in the shadows, were stunned by the terrifying anomaly.
Their eyes widened, and they felt a prickling sensation on their scalps as they watched the surging heaven and earth spiritual energy.
Zhang Ergou, at the center of the spiritual energy vortex, was not feeling particularly comfortable either. Although the spiritual fire assisted him in accelerating the refinement of the heaven and earth essence, his meridians, before the breakthrough, were not yet thick or wide enough to accommodate such a massive flow of spiritual energy. Meanwhile, his dantian sea desperately needed a large influx of spiritual energy.
Zhang Ergou endured the excruciating pain in his meridians, channeling the heaven and earth essence, refined by the spiritual fire, into his dantian sea.
Slowly, the golden spiritual energy within his dantian sea became increasingly solidified. As more and more spiritual energy poured in, his dantian sea was gradually filled.
Just as Zhang Ergou was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the Heaven and Earth Chaotic Art, instead of stopping, began to circulate even faster.
Zhang Ergou could only carefully control the spiritual fire to refine the heaven and earth essence entering his body. At this point, his body was no longer under his own control.
His dantian sea ravenously devoured the heaven and earth essence, which entered his body through his pores in a chaotic manner.
If not for the assistance of the spiritual fire in refining it, Zhang Ergou would have spent a considerable amount of time purifying the impurities from the heaven and earth essence.
However, time was not waiting for him.
Qian Wenchao did not cease his assault, even with the world-shaking phenomenon indicating Zhang Ergou's imminent breakthrough.
Wang Teng clung to Qian Wenchao's legs, his face covered in blood, appearing as if he had emerged from a pool of gore.
"If you want... to get... close to... Zhang Ergou, you... have to... step... over... me."
His words were slurred, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Hmph, hah, a most amusing request. Since you beg so earnestly, it would be rude of your senior brother not to oblige!"
As he spoke, Qian Wenchao raised his foot, intending to stomp viciously on Wang Teng's face.
"No!" Lin Yueru screamed from her place in the blood.
"Don't!" Lu Xiaoyu, who had already lost a leg, was weeping profusely.
"Die, brat. Remember not to be so reckless in your next life. Not everyone can be blocked by you."
With a cold sneer, Qian Wenchao's foot was about to descend.
*Bang!*
With a resounding thud, Qian Wenchao stumbled, his foot landing on the bluestone ground.
"Ho ho, another one who's unafraid of death?"
Glancing back at the person who had bumped into him, Qian Wenchao attempted to shake off Wang Teng's grip.
However, Wang Teng's hands were like vises, firmly locked onto one of Qian Wenchao's legs. He struggled several times but failed to dislodge the tenacious grip.
"Brat, be sensible and let go quickly!"
Saying this, he raised his other foot, intending to stomp on Wang Teng's hands.
"To... get... close... to... Er... Er... Ergou, you... have... to... step... over... me... over... me!"
Wang Teng’s hands remained clamped around Qian Wenchao’s leg, refusing to let go.
"Wang Teng!" Lin Yueru shrieked again, tears streaming down her face.
"No, you beast!" Lu Xiaoyu screamed, struggling to stand and stop Qian Wenchao, but with a broken leg, she was already incapacitated.
*Bang!*
Lin Yichen once again knocked away Qian Wenchao's descending foot and was sent rolling in another direction.
"Lin Yichen!" Lin Yueru cried out hoarsely. She felt utterly powerless, unable to help them in any way, only able to watch as Qian Wenchao harmed her friends.
Lin Yichen curled into a ball, trying to alleviate the pain. There wasn't a single part of him that wasn't injured.
Relying on his immense willpower and the determination to protect Zhang Ergou, Lin Yichen had managed to endure this long.
"Brat, I underestimated you. You're quite the rambler!" Qian Wenchao, having been struck by Lin Yichen twice, was thoroughly enraged.
With a flying kick, he completely broke free from Wang Teng's grasp.
"Die, brat!"
*Bang!*
A solid kick landed squarely on Lin Yichen's contorted body.
"Lin Yichen..." Lin Yueru and Lu Xiaoyu screamed in unison, tears flooding their faces.
"Don't hurt my friends!" a voice suddenly emanated from the dense heaven and earth spiritual energy.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*...
A series of rhythmic thuds echoed, shaking the very ground.
"Who is it? Playing tricks and being mysterious!"
Hearing the commotion, Qian Wenchao temporarily abandoned his plan to continue tormenting Lin Yichen, his eyes fixed on the source of the sound, his expression grave.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*...
On the battle stage shrouded in heaven and earth spiritual energy, no one answered his question. Only the rhythmic stomping grew closer, and Qian Wenchao's brow furrowed deeper.
"Which friend, please reveal yourself. Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding?"
Qian Wenchao's tone shifted, losing its former arrogance. He could sense an extraordinary presence from the approaching footsteps.
However, the hidden individual remained silent, as if deliberately ignoring him, offering no response after the initial utterance.
"Friend, if you do not emerge soon, do not blame Qian for his rudeness!"
Qian Wenchao shouted towards the direction of the sound, raising his hands, preparing to unleash an attack.