The serpentine long sword, radiating a dazzling glow, transformed into a streak of light, swiftly cleaving towards the Ghost Spear Tianwen.
Zhang Ergou, naturally, was not to be outdone. With a slight smile, he relied on his spirit energy reserves. In the same realm, he truly feared no one!
His hands moved without pause, pouring torrents of spiritual energy into the Ghost Spear Tianwen suspended in mid-air.
The black Ghost Spear Tianwen appeared even more abyssal, exuding a subtle, mysterious aura.
As the serpentine long sword descended, the Ghost Spear Tianwen remained unmoved.
Still standing firm in the void, the Ghost Spear Tianwen was like a guardian general, growing stronger with every surge of the serpentine long sword.
Clang, clang, bang, bang!
The deafening clash of metal against metal echoed.
On the viewing platforms, disciples with weak cultivation levels, overwhelmed by the vibrations from the clash of the two weapons, winced and covered their ears…
Seeing that his magic artifact could not even slightly harm Zhang Ergou, Liu He felt a chill in his heart.
He hadn't expected Zhang Ergou's seemingly ordinary iron spear to be able to contend with his magic artifact.
It was important to note that Liu He's magic artifact was not of low grade; it had already reached the third rank.
Yet, this very artifact, which Liu He considered his trump card, was fighting an even match with Zhang Ergou's dark iron spear in the void.
There was even a subtle hint of being at a disadvantage.
Liu He channeled more spiritual energy from within his body, his face contorting with strain. Propelling a third-rank magic artifact, even for someone at the Golden Core middle stage, would not sustain their spiritual energy for long.
In contrast, Zhang Ergou appeared much more relaxed, his expression natural.
"What's wrong, can't sustain your spiritual energy for much longer?"
Seeing Liu He's flushed face, Zhang Ergou taunted.
"Cocky brat, let's see how long you can hold out."
In Liu He's mind, Zhang Ergou was clearly just enduring. How could a mere early Golden Core stage cultivator outlast him!
With this thought, Liu He channeled more spiritual energy, and the serpentine long sword shone even brighter as it slashed towards the iron spear!
"What are they doing? Directly clashing their magic artifacts?"
Some disciples with weaker cultivation, seeing the two standing motionless on the stage while their aerial magic artifacts collided with a barrage of sounds, were naturally bewildered.
"Hush, watch quietly, and try to feel it with your divine sense!"
The disciple who had asked the question complied. Suddenly, his sea of consciousness throbbed, and had he not retreated in time, he would have been injured.
The disciple who had spoken earlier now looked upon the two on the stage with complete awe!
…
The battle on the stage continued. Liu He's complexion grew progressively worse, while Zhang Ergou maintained his relaxed demeanor.
"There's something strange. How can Zhang Ergou's spiritual energy be more abundant than Liu He's?"
"Yes, this is truly peculiar. Zhang Ergou is clearly only at the early Golden Core stage, while Liu He is just one step away from the late Golden Core stage!"
"It's illogical. This Zhang Ergou fellow is indeed rather uncanny!"
Those discussing were several Nascent Soul stage elders from the Liuhai Sect. With their cultivation and eyesight, they could naturally tell that Zhang Ergou was not hiding his strength.
However, Zhang Ergou's actual performance during the battle had left them astonished.
At the forefront of the Liuhai Sect's viewing area, a middle-aged man with a goatee had an expression so grim it could almost drip water. He was Liu Xun, the Sect Master of the Liuhai Sect.
Earlier, Liu Xun had instructed his subordinate elders to arrange for disciples to specifically target Zhang Ergou, but it seemed ineffective.
On the stage, Zhang Ergou was still full of vigor, while Liu He was gradually faltering!
…
Crack!
Suddenly, a crisp sound, the snapping of a blade, erupted.
The serpentine long sword, which had been radiating light in the void, instantly dimmed, losing all its luster.
Pfft!
Liu He suffered a backlash, spewing a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen.
His eyes, filled with disbelief, stared at the falling serpentine long sword. His beloved magic artifact had been destroyed by Zhang Ergou!
By this point, Liu He had already lost all ability to fight. Not only was his magic artifact destroyed, but his spiritual energy was also completely depleted.
"I concede!"
Liu He's blood-stained lips trembled slightly, his face pale. His handsome features were etched with despair.
Zhang Ergou waved his hand, recalling the Ghost Spear Tianwen from the void. The Ghost Spear Tianwen had already recognized him as its master.
After more than two years of refinement, its coordination with Zhang Ergou had become increasingly seamless.
Zhang Ergou calmly accepted Liu He's surrender. Although he was unharmed in this battle, the consumption was not insignificant.
His spiritual energy was only at one-fifth capacity. If Liu He had managed to hold on a bit longer, it was possible that Zhang Ergou would have been the one to lose.
"Zhang Ergou, awesome!"
"Zhang Ergou, well done!"
From the Misty Sect's side, upon hearing that Zhang Ergou had successfully advanced to the next round of the competition, a wave of cheers erupted.
The disciples who had previously held reservations about Zhang Ergou had now completely changed their views.
If they were to face Hua Ying and Liu He, who were at the Golden Core middle stage, they might not have performed as well as Zhang Ergou.
…
The competition continued. Upon returning to the Misty Sect's viewing platform, Zhang Ergou was naturally met with a barrage of questions.
However, he managed to brush them all off with the excuse that it was a long story.
With so many people present, Zhang Ergou would not be foolish enough to reveal his experiences.
If the Liuhai Sect were to overhear, his situation would become perilous.
Following this, Wang Teng, Xiao Qingyu, Lu Xiaoyu, and Lin Yueru also took the stage in turn, displaying their prowess on the Foundation Establishment stage.
Each of them defeated their opponents and sent them off the stage. Zhang Ergou sat on the viewing platform, feigning the demeanor of a well-behaved child.
He felt the murderous gaze of Chi Yu and dared not act rashly any longer.
Zhang Ergou feared no one, but he still had to respect his master.
Sensing Chi Yu's frequent glances in his direction, Zhang Ergou inwardly pondered how to explain himself without arousing Chi Yu's suspicion.
Naturally, he could not tell the truth. For one, how he was captured and how he escaped were difficult to explain.
The Snow Mountain Elder and the Ice Cold Snow Mountain were his greatest secrets.
Even Chi Yu could not be told. If Chi Yu knew that he had stolen the Misty Sect's Ice Cold Snow Mountain, he would surely be expelled from the sect.
Furthermore, his appearance unharmed after being imprisoned by the Liuhai Sect simply didn't add up.
…
As dusk approached, the day's competition neared its end. The grand competition between the two sects was not scheduled tightly.
Today and tomorrow were for the preliminary rounds, with the second selection round scheduled for three days later.
For the remaining days, Zhang Ergou had no further matches.
Zhang Ergou planned to stay in his room, claiming that he had gained some insights during the competition and needed to cultivate and consolidate them.
Upon hearing this, people naturally would not disturb him. For cultivators, insights were rare and precious opportunities.
Therefore, even Chi Yu, who was eager to know why Zhang Ergou had suddenly disappeared the previous night, had to restrain herself.
For safety's sake, within Zhang Ergou's room, he had asked the Snow Mountain Elder to set up a formation that shielded it from external probes.
The formation arranged by the Snow Mountain Elder was so powerful that even a cultivator at the Soul Transformation stage could not ascertain the actual situation within.
Zhang Ergou was naturally overjoyed. Before him still lay that black iron ball.
Just moments before, during his clash of magic artifacts with Liu He, Zhang Ergou had felt this black iron ball stir…