"Someone from Canglang Sect is here for help?"
Elder Tiandao frowned. Although Canglang Sect was a small sect, that was only in comparison to behemoths like Piaomiao Sect.
Canglang Sect was located in the northwestern region of the Yin Zhou Continent and had thousands of disciples.
After many years of development, the region where it was situated had gradually come under the sway of Canglang Sect, and the sect’s progress had been very rapid in recent years.
Because of their geographical locations—Canglang Sect in the northwest and Piaomiao Sect in the central part of the Yin Zhou Continent—there were no significant conflicts between the two sects. Furthermore, Piaomiao Sect, considering itself a great and powerful sect, disdained bullying smaller sects.
Moreover, Piaomiao Sect had cultivated an immeasurable number of disciples over the years. Many of its accomplished disciples, in order to temper their abilities, had left the protection of the sect to venture out alone for training. Some of the exceptionally talented even founded their own sects.
Thus, the smaller sects on the Yin Zhou Continent shared intricate connections with Piaomiao Sect. However, Canglang Sect and Piaomiao Sect did not have such ties. While conflicts between the two were rare, their relationship was far from amicable. Therefore, Elder Tiandao found the plea for help from Canglang Sect extremely perplexing. Could it be that Canglang Sect had indeed encountered something extraordinary? Canglang Sect was a sect with an expert at the Nascent Soul stage, and while its strength didn't match that of Piaomiao Sect or Liuhai Sect, it was still a top-tier existence among the second echelon of sects.
"Yes, one of the two individuals who came for help claimed to be the young sect master of Canglang Sect. He came to request Elder Tiandao's assistance to rescue Canglang Sect from dire straits."
"The young sect master of Canglang Sect?"
Elder Tiandao had not anticipated that Canglang Sect would send their young sect master for help. It seemed the matter at hand was indeed significant.
"Once this current affair is concluded, I will go myself. You, for now, should arrange for the young sect master of Canglang Sect to rest within our sect. Do not neglect him in any way."
The elder who delivered the message nodded in agreement and withdrew. Elder Tiandao and the others continued to observe the battle on the field. The experts on the Fengyun Ranking, fearing they would be overshadowed, each exerted their utmost effort to slay the opposing demonic beasts.
The situation changed drastically. The hundreds of Golden Core stage demonic beasts that had initially held the advantage became mere tools for the dozens of experts on the Fengyun Ranking to compete amongst themselves. Though these experts were subtly vying for superiority, none dared to directly challenge Zhang Ergou in terms of the number of beasts killed. They had initially been displeased with Zhang Ergou's prominence and had, in the beginning, emulated him. However, in terms of physical resilience, how could they compare to someone who cultivated both body and spirit?
After the duration of one incense stick, the experts on the Fengyun Ranking frustratingly discovered that that brat Zhang Ergou seemed unfazed by the exertion. His spiritual energy consumption during combat was extremely low, and his attacks possessed the perfect combination of speed, accuracy, and ferocity. After a period of intense fighting, witnessing the ever-growing pile of demonic beast corpses at Zhang Ergou's feet while they had managed to kill only one beast each within the same timeframe, these esteemed inner disciples on the Fengyun Ranking, to avoid succumbing to despair, all withdrew from competing with Zhang Ergou. Who could blame them? That brat Zhang Ergou was simply too monstrous, a true prodigy. With a cultivation at the mid-Golden Core stage, he could incapacitate a late-Golden Core stage demonic beast within a few moves.
"This brat is truly inhuman," a single thought echoed in the minds of all the prodigies. They ceased their self-humiliation by competing with Zhang Ergou on kill counts, but their own internal struggles had truly begun. Each of these prodigies possessed a cultivation at the late-Golden Core stage or higher, yet they reluctantly admitted that they might not be able to defeat Zhang Ergou if they were to face him.
Zhang Ergou, naturally, paid no mind to the comments about him, nor did he notice the covert competition from the geniuses of other sects. He seemed to have entered a wondrous state, his hands and the spear in them moving mechanically. Yet, each movement was precise, the tip of the spear expertly slicing through the vital points of the demonic beasts. Moreover, Zhang Ergou fought with increasing vigor, his speed escalating. By the end, some of the inner disciples with lower cultivation could only perceive Zhang Ergou's afterimages. When a late-Golden Core stage demonic beast pierced through Zhang Ergou's body, and everyone tensed, ready to cry out, they realized Zhang Ergou had already moved behind the beast. What the beast had impaled was merely Zhang Ergou's afterimage.
A guttural sound… Blood splattered. Before the late-Golden Core stage demonic beast could even react, the spear in Zhang Ergou's hand had already pierced its neck.
A thud… The corpse of the late-Golden Core stage demonic beast fell powerlessly to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Without even glancing at the fallen beast, Zhang Ergou turned and lunged towards the next one. On the battlefield, Zhang Ergou had utterly transformed into a ruthless killing machine, his killing intent accumulating with each passing moment. His eyes gradually turned blood-red, resembling a caged beast about to be unleashed.
"Senior Brother, will this brat Ergou be alright if he continues like this?" Chunyang Sanren and Chiyu, along with others, surrounded Elder Tiandao. Seeing Zhang Ergou's increasingly unsettling state, worry appeared on each of their faces.
"He will be fine. This is also a test of his mental fortitude. If he cannot overcome this hurdle, then I have misjudged him."
Despite Elder Tiandao's cryptic words, Chunyang Sanren and the others could discern that Zhang Ergou would not face any serious harm, and their hearts were thus put at ease.
"Hah!"
Suddenly, Zhang Ergou let out a loud roar, raising the iron spear in his hands high above his head before preparing to bring it down with force. He was treating the iron spear like a club; it was truly baffling what he was thinking. However, to everyone's astonishment, the descending iron spear, halfway through its trajectory, abruptly changed direction and thrust forward, impaling an oncoming demonic beast through its chest. The iron spear did not stop; it continued its downward path, smashing heavily onto the head of another demonic beast. The inner disciples were all mesmerized. Zhang Ergou's mastery of his weapon and his keen judgment made the proud prodigies feel deeply inferior.
"Senior Brother, why do I feel spiritual energy gathering over there?" Due to the smoke from the large fire, the battlefield was shrouded in mist, and the localized changes in spiritual energy had not drawn everyone's attention. It was only when someone noticed that they realized a vast amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy was swirling around Zhang Ergou. Zhang Ergou's entire figure became increasingly blurred, gradually enveloped by the spiritual energy.
"Hahaha, this brat is about to break through, I suppose. I truly don't know what kind of good fortune he’s stumbled upon; it almost makes me envious." Elder Tiandao laughed heartily, making a jest. The others, hearing this, could not help but cast envious glances at Zhang Ergou. To achieve a breakthrough during combat was truly unprecedented.