A man, carrying two large hammers effortlessly, strode in. His robust frame was taller than average, exuding a sense of forthrightness.
"Isn't that Xiao Qingyu from the Precious Artifact Pavilion?" people exclaimed upon seeing him.
"Indeed, it's quite lively here today!" Several figures emerged one after another behind Xiao Qingyu.
"Yu Lin from the Law Enforcement Hall, Jiang Haochu from the Scripture Repository, they've all arrived!"
"Look, aren't those the core disciples from Chunyang Peak and Dongyang Peak?"
Behind them, two graceful figures elegantly entered. They were Lin Yueru from the Precious Pill Pavilion and another woman Zhang Ergou didn't recognize.
This woman's smiling demeanor sharply contrasted with Lin Yueru's cold composure. She greeted the surrounding disciples with a smile, appearing approachable.
"Oh heavens, Senior Sister Lu actually smiled at me, I'm so happy."
A disciple beside him glanced at his companion with disdain. "Senior Sister Lu smiles at everyone, why are you so pathetic?"
The great hall became even more crowded. All of the top ten outer disciples had gathered here.
"Hey, you're Zhang Ergou, right!" Xiao Qingyu, holding his two large hammers, walked directly in front of Zhang Ergou.
Everyone's gaze also shifted to him.
In the past few days, the most they had heard about was Zhang Ergou. Thus, everyone was very curious about him.
"It's said that Zhang Ergou is only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, but he doesn't seem to match the rumors."
"How did this kid cultivate? He reached the middle Foundation Establishment stage in just a few days."
"His aura, I feel it's comparable to mine." More than one of the top ten prodigies from the Misty Sect's outer disciples had this feeling.
"Hey, my junior brother from Chunyang Peak naturally won't be weak," several disciples from Chunyang Peak also walked to Zhang Ergou's side.
"Junior brother, don't be afraid. If you have any trouble in the future, Senior Brother will protect you. I forgot to tell you, my name is Wang Teng," a disciple with a physique comparable to Xiao Qingyu's said, directly putting an arm around Zhang Ergou.
His gaze provocatively swept over Jiang Hao and the group from Xiayang Peak.
"Oh my, I also find this kid quite pleasing to the eye. Follow me from now on, and let's see who dares to bully you," Xiao Qingyu said, glancing at Jiang Hao and the others, and also slinging an arm around Zhang Ergou's neck.
Zhang Ergou, sandwiched between two burly men, who was not short in stature, now appeared somewhat diminutive.
"Senior brothers, Senior brothers… I can't breathe!" Zhang Ergou's face turned red.
"Haha, sorry!" Wang Teng and Xiao Qingyu quickly removed their arms.
"Looking at these guys makes me angry," Xiao Qingyu said, glancing at Jiang Hao, Song Zhinan, and Lu Yan.
"What did you say?" The three heard this and were about to charge forward.
"I don't like the look of you, so what? You want to fight!" Wang Teng also rolled up his sleeves, adopting a combative stance.
"Are we afraid of you?" Song Zhinan quickly stepped forward to stop the about-to-fight Lu Yan and Jiang Hao.
"Let's meet on the training grounds!" With that, the three, along with their junior brothers, turned and walked towards the registration point.
"Cowards!" Wang Teng spat disdainfully, watching their retreating backs.
"Junior brother, let's have a drink together sometime, Senior Brother Xiao and I," Wang Teng said, patting Zhang Ergou's shoulder. Xiao Qingyu also smiled friendly at Zhang Ergou.
"Let's go, let's go, time to register," Yu Lin urged everyone and walked towards the great hall.
After they left, Lu Yanran and Lin Yueru walked to Zhang Ergou.
Lu Yanran looked at Zhang Ergou with a smile, her bright eyes full of curiosity.
"How do you feel?" Lin Yueru asked.
"Yueru, you know this guy?" Lu Yanran looked at them with gossip in her eyes, "Don't tell me…"
"What are you thinking!" Lin Yueru's pretty face flushed, she playfully hit Lu Yanran, and seeing that Zhang Ergou didn't answer, she ran into the great hall.
"Little fellow, not bad, you actually made the ice beauty fall for you." Saying this, Lu Yanran reached out to touch Zhang Ergou's cheek.
Zhang Ergou dodged.
"Tsk tsk, good reflexes!" Lu Yanran was surprised when she missed.
"Senior Sister, I have something to do, I'm leaving now!" Zhang Ergou hastily escaped.
"Hehe, an interesting little fellow," Lu Yanran said softly, watching Zhang Ergou's hurried retreating figure.
As soon as he left the great hall, Zhang Ergou was pulled away by the stout little fatty Xiong Bao who suddenly appeared.
"Where are you taking me?" Zhang Ergou asked irritably.
"Hehe, naturally, I have something good to show you," Xiong Bao said mysteriously, blinking his small eyes.
Pulled by the little fatty Xiong Bao, they arrived at a vast orchard, which should have been the legendary Spirit Fruit Garden of the Misty Sect.
Looking at the fruits emitting spiritual energy on the trees, Zhang Ergou secretly swallowed.
When the two entered, they saw Zi Lin already holding a plate of spirit fruits and eating.
Zhang Ergou also picked up a fruit from the plate and took a bite. It was fresh and fragrant, and the fruit, filled with spiritual energy, rushed into his mouth.
"Where is the good thing you were talking about?" Zhang Ergou asked, looking at Xiong Bao.
"Follow me." The little fatty led Zhang Ergou to a fruit tree. Zhang Ergou then saw a person standing under the tree.
He was startled.
"Hehe, don't be scared, this guy is not a real person," Xiong Bao said, patting the figure in black robes, who stood like a javelin.
"Not a real person?" Zhang Ergou looked confused and cautiously approached.
"Have you heard of puppets?" Zi Lin also came to the fruit tree.
"Puppet?"
"Yes, he is a puppet. The elder guarding the fruit garden specially brought him from the inner sect to guard it."
Zhang Ergou carefully examined the puppet before him. He couldn't feel any aura or cultivation from this figure, just as the legends said.
His eyes were hollow and devoid of any emotion.
Puppets, it is said, are a type of killing weapon refined using formations. As long as a task is given, these mindless beings will execute it until they are disabled, the task is completed, or their master gives the command to stop.
"It's a good thing, isn't it?" The little fatty Xiong Bao chuckled.
Zhang Ergou reached out and touched the puppet's body, then tapped it hard, producing a metallic sound.
"How is it? In that so-called test that old man Chunyang told you about, this guy is involved," Zi Lin said, eating spirit fruits.
"However, the forest for the test only contains low-level puppets, roughly Xuan-tier, with strength comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Xuan-tier puppet. Are there even higher levels?" Zhang Ergou asked.
"Of course, puppets are also divided into grades: Xuan-tier, Di-tier, and Tian-tier."
"But Di-tier and Tian-tier are generally difficult to make and rare, so those old guys wouldn't be willing to use them against you."
"Do you want to own one?" The little fatty Xiong Bao asked with a mischievous grin.
"These things are for sale?"