"Yue Ru, you're all together."
A figure darted out from the crowd, their small face smudged and their clothes torn.
It was Lu Xiaoyu.
"Xiaoyu, you're with Senior Brother Chen and the others?"
Lin Yueru quickly stepped forward, surprised.
She hadn't expected Lu Xiaoyu to be with Chen Gong and the others.
Lu Xiaoyu was also happy to see the others. After greeting Zhang Ergou and the rest, she grabbed Lin Yueru and chattered incessantly.
During their conversation, Zhang Ergou and the others learned about the encounters Chen Gong and his group had experienced on their journey.
Everyone felt a sense of regret. If not for Zhang Ergou leading them...
They might not have fared any better than Chen Gong and his group.
"Li Yao, did you encounter any disciples from the Liuhai Sect?"
Despite the many mishaps along the way, they had all managed to pull through. However, what puzzled Chen Gong and the others was that...
They hadn't encountered a single Liuhai Sect disciple on the path they took.
This left them astonished.
Li Yao couldn't help but glance at Zhang Ergou.
"What, is it related to Junior Brother Ergou?"
Chen Gong's understanding of Zhang Ergou was limited to his performance in the final match of the Two Sects Competition.
He knew almost nothing else.
Thus, he instinctively assumed Li Yao was the leader.
He had addressed Li Yao first, only nodding slightly towards Zhang Ergou and the others.
Zhang Ergou and his group had not been in the inner sect for long.
They had only recently emerged from seclusion and thus didn't know Zhang Ergou and the others well.
Seeing Li Yao look towards Zhang Ergou, Chen Gong was somewhat confused.
Li Yao's strength was not much different from his own. Now, judging by Li Yao's actions, it was clear she considered Zhang Ergou her leader.
This further perplexed Chen Gong.
These were all heaven-favored prodigies. Although Yin Zhou Continent was vast, the northwestern region was dominated by the Misty Sect and the Liuhai Sect.
How could anyone who became a top expert on the inner sect rankings not be proud?
Moreover, Li Yao's ranking on the inner sect list was just below his.
Not only Chen Gong but also the other Misty Sect disciples who followed Chen Gong were somewhat perplexed as to why the usually assertive Li Yao would behave this way.
Seeing that Li Yao and the others had no intention of explaining, the group could only drop the matter.
"We did encounter some Liuhai Sect disciples a few times, but it seemed they were all together in a group of more than ten."
Seeing Zhang Ergou nod, Li Yao explained to Chen Gong and the others.
"So, does that mean the Liuhai Sect has a special way of communicating? Otherwise, how could so many people gather together?"
Chen Gong frowned, lost in thought.
Li Yao couldn't help but glance at Zhang Ergou again. If not for Zhang Ergou's actions...
The disciples of the Liuhai Sect would not have been able to gather so quickly.
However, Li Yao did not elaborate, vaguely recounting some of their encounters on the journey.
Even so, these brief accounts caused the other Misty Sect disciples to look at Zhang Ergou with a different gaze.
But Zhang Ergou paid no mind to their glances. They had more important matters to attend to here.
"Senior Brother Chen, what are your plans now?"
"Of course, we're going in. We've come this far."
With everyone in agreement, they prepared to head deeper into the mansion.
"More people have arrived."
As everyone was about to move forward, they noticed a group of people emerging from the entrance not far away.
There were at least a dozen of them, but they were in no better condition.
They appeared even more disheveled than Chen Gong's group. Seeing their state, Chen Gong and the others felt a strange sense of relief.
Upon closer inspection, these were none other than the dozen disciples from the Liuhai Sect, who had been tricked by Zhang Ergou and his group several times.
Their leader was the Saintess of the Liuhai Sect – Ling Feng'er.
"Oh my, it seems the Liuhai Sect's Saintess hasn't had an easy journey either!"
Before Zhang Ergou could speak, Chen Gong had already interjected with a sarcastic remark.
Ling Feng'er shot Chen Gong a cold glare and snorted without replying. Instead, her gaze fell upon Zhang Ergou and his group.
She hadn't paid much attention upon first entering, but the attire of Lin Yichen, Xiao Qingyu, and the others made her suspicious.
The clothing of the masked group from before was not much different from that of Lin Yichen and his companions.
After a brief, cold appraisal, Ling Feng'er said no more.
"What, is the Saintess displeased with us?"
However, her silence did not mean someone else could tolerate it.
Li Yao, whose spotlight had been stolen by Zhang Ergou along the way, had long wished to prove herself. Su Dan Novel Network
Seeing Ling Feng'er's unfriendly gaze towards their group, she immediately spoke up.
"Hmph!"
Ling Feng'er did not respond, merely snorted, and led the Liuhai Sect disciples forward, completely ignoring Li Yao.
"Haha, Senior Brother Li, do you have feelings for the Liuhai Sect's Saintess? How about I go ask Elder Tiandao to propose for you?"
Seeing Ling Feng'er walk away, Zhang Ergou immediately teased Li Yao, causing Li Yao to blush deeply.
"Get lost! Hurry up and follow, don't let the Liuhai Sect people get ahead."
Everyone's expression turned serious. This was not the time for jokes. They quickly followed the Liuhai Sect disciples towards the depths of the mansion.
...
"Is this the cultivation dwelling of that mighty being?"
Although they didn't know who the owner of this cultivation mansion was, its grandeur and magnificence once again shocked everyone.
Zhang Ergou and the others were currently in the central area of this mansion.
There stood a towering altar that reached for the sky.
This was the same altar Zhang Ergou and the others had seen upon entering the core of the secret realm. Standing beneath it now, they could truly feel its magnificence.
Even from the outside, Zhang Ergou and the others could feel the altar's oppressive aura.
The altar was shaped like a tiered pagoda. At the very bottom, a door was gently closed.
"Let's go in and take a look?"
Chen Gong, Li Yao, Zhang Ergou, and the others exchanged glances and nodded.
With a creak, the slightly ajar door was pushed open.
"Fated one, welcome to my humble abode."
As they stepped through the entrance, they saw a stone tablet inscribed with several large characters.
Zhang Ergou and the others exchanged surprised glances. Had this mighty being foreseen someone arriving here?
However, their sect elders had never mentioned anything about it.
The Liuhai Sect disciples were equally bewildered.
Seeing no apparent danger, they relaxed and continued forward.
Beyond the stone tablet, a nine-tiered stone staircase appeared before them.
"Haha, fated one, since you have chosen to enter, prepare yourself to accept my trial!"
The first step of the staircase was inscribed with a line of text, leaving Zhang Ergou and the others perplexed.
However, as they stepped onto the stairs, their expressions instantly changed drastically...