One day passed, and the second round of the competition concluded.
Zhang Ergou successfully advanced to the finals. Among the Golden Core stage disciples, seven from the Misty Sect made it to the finals.
Zhang Ergou was relatively unfamiliar with these individuals, indicating they were likely high-ranking on the inner sect rankings.
Those disciples were also surprised by Zhang Ergou's advancement to the finals.
Previously, they hadn't taken Zhang Ergou seriously, but after two rounds, seeing him reach the finals truly astonished them.
However, they didn't pay him particular attention, assuming he had merely advanced by chance against weaker opponents.
Unbeknownst to them, during the first round, Liu Xun, the sect leader of Flowing Sea Sect, had already noticed Zhang Ergou's peculiar nature.
He had specifically sent Liu Hai, ranked tenth in Flowing Sea Sect, to fight Zhang Ergou, hoping to eliminate him in the first round.
But Zhang Ergou's performance did not meet the Flowing Sea Sect leader's expectations.
Liu Xun subsequently dispatched a special team to keep a close watch on Zhang Ergou. Firstly, Zhang Ergou was suspected of escaping from the Flowing Sea Sect's prison.
Secondly, Liu Xun wanted to uncover what hidden capabilities this young man possessed.
Even though Zhang Ergou's previous cultivation was only at the early stage of Golden Core, and even if he had concealed his true strength, Liu Xun, with his keen insight, could tell that Zhang Ergou was merely at the middle stage of Golden Core.
Liu Xun observed that Zhang Ergou rarely initiated attacks during his fights against Flowing Sea Sect disciples, instead focusing on defense.
However, at critical junctures, he would deliver a fatal blow.
Even when the Flowing Sea Sect disciples believed they were on the verge of victory, Zhang Ergou would choose that moment to strike.
Even someone as formidable as Liu Xun was intrigued by Zhang Ergou's temperament.
If Zhang Ergou had been a disciple of the Flowing Sea Sect, Liu Xun would have undoubtedly treated him as a precious treasure and cultivated him.
Unfortunately, Zhang Ergou was a disciple of the Misty Sect.
Although the two sects maintained a cordial relationship on the surface and had regular interactions, these were merely superficial.
In reality, if not for the fact that the secret realm was discovered jointly by the ancestors of the Misty Sect and the Flowing Sea Sect back then, requiring a key from each sect to open it, the two sects would likely have fallen apart long ago, and would not be getting along so harmoniously today.
Liu Xun was an ambitious man. The current sect leader of the Misty Sect, Chi Chen, had disappeared while traveling the world.
Over the years, the Flowing Sea Sect had developed in secret. This time, they had gone against all conventions by imprisoning disciples from other sects.
Zhang Ergou unfortunately became one of them. Su Dan Novel Network.
However, Zhang Ergou eventually escaped, something the people of the Flowing Sea Sect had not anticipated.
Therefore, when Li Kong discovered the severe damage to the prison, he was not only furious but also felt a sense of unease.
If the sect leader learned of his incompetence, and that his actions had jeopardized the sect's plans,
Li Kong knew that even with his Nascent Soul cultivation, he would be in grave trouble.
Thus, when Lin Wenshen proposed that method, Li Kong agreed after a brief consideration.
This was not only to atone for his mistake but, more importantly, to prevent the sect's plans from being leaked. If others were to find out,
Leaving aside others, Sect Leader Liu Xun would surely tear him apart.
Li Kong was aware of Sect Leader Liu Xun's fearsome nature and would not risk his life by crossing him.
Unless he felt his head was made of iron and he had lived too long.
Three days later, after Zhang Ergou once again finished his cultivation in the mysterious space of the black iron ball,
The finals of the Two Sects Grand Competition began.
After over ten days of cultivation in the iron ball space, Zhang Ergou's recently breakthrough Golden Core cultivation was further consolidated.
His aura was now more stable and subtle, lacking the sharp edge it once possessed.
If Zhang Ergou concealed his cultivation, others might mistake him for an ordinary person with no cultivation.
This was a feat not commonly possessed by cultivators in the middle stage of Golden Core. It had to be said that the small world of the black iron ball had bestowed too many benefits upon Zhang Ergou.
Not only did it accelerate his cultivation speed considerably, but it also made his aura more stable.
While cultivating in the small world, Zhang Ergou felt most profoundly that his connection with heaven and earth seemed to have become more intimate.
He followed everyone to the competition venue.
The venue for this final was still the same arena where the first and second rounds were held.
However, perhaps due to it being the finals, the final matches for Golden Core stage cultivators and Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were not held simultaneously.
Instead, the finals among Foundation Establishment stage disciples would proceed first, followed by the finals among Golden Core stage disciples.
"Er Gou, has your cultivation advanced further? I feel your aura becoming more and more stable."
During these three days, Zhang Ergou had remained in his room and had not appeared. In such a short span, Chi Yu felt that with his own cultivation, he could no longer see through Zhang Ergou.
On the way to the competition venue, Chi Yu couldn't help but ask.
"Hehe, Master, I accidentally broke through to the middle stage of Golden Core a few days ago."
Zhang Ergou had no reason to hide anything from Chi Yu. Besides, he could deceive cultivators of the same or lower cultivation level.
However, those powerful Nascent Soul cultivators could see through him at a glance.
Therefore, he did not conceal anything from Chi Yu.
"Beast!" Following behind Zhang Ergou and Chi Yu, two mournful cries suddenly rang out.
Zhang Ergou looked back and saw that it was Wang Teng and Xiao Qingyu.
At this moment, both looked at Zhang Ergou with expressions of grievance. They had entered the inner sect of the Misty Sect at the same time.
Within half a year of entering the inner sect, Zhang Ergou had broken through to the early stage of Golden Core, which they already considered fast.
But in less than three months since then, this brat had broken through to the middle stage of Golden Core again.
How could they possibly live like this?
Initially, they had been at a higher cultivation level than Zhang Ergou by a minor realm.
Now, Zhang Ergou had far surpassed them. At this rate, they could only look up to him.
It had been almost a year since they entered the inner sect, and they hadn't even touched the threshold of breaking through to the Golden Core stage, yet Zhang Ergou had already reached the middle stage of Golden Core.
Truly, comparing oneself to others was infuriating!
Zhang Ergou glanced at the expressions of Xiao Qingyu and Wang Teng and then paid them no further attention.
He knew his own situation. If it weren't for the various fortuitous encounters, he might still be struggling to cultivate at the Foundation Establishment stage.
These were his biggest secrets, and he certainly wouldn't tell anyone.
"You're saying you broke through to the middle stage of Golden Core on the night the first round of the competition ended?"
Chi Yu looked at Zhang Ergou with burning eyes.
"Master, how did you know?"
Zhang Ergou frowned. At that time, he had asked Elder Xue Shan to use formations to isolate his room.
Moreover, he had broken through within the iron ball's small world.