The celestial and earthly spiritual energy surged towards Zhang Ergou as if by a tide, and the bluestone battle stage was quickly enveloped in a vast expanse of white.
"This little fellow's body refining technique is extraordinary!"
Shi Wuheng, who had been quiet for a long time, spoke up. "The little fellow is truly insane. Under such circumstances, he is actually enduring the pain of body refinement. From his current appearance, it seems he is about to break through."
"This child will surely become famous across the Yin Zhou Continent in the future, an existence of great consequence," Wu Dafei of Wanbao Pavilion murmured to himself, having long recognized Zhang Ergou's uniqueness.
"No one is more ruthless than this kid. Being ruthless to others is nothing; true ruthlessness is directed at oneself."
"We've never heard of any cultivator being as insane as this kid," the Daoist Dongyang and others exclaimed with sighs.
"Kid, as long as you survive this tribulation, even if you fail the inner sect beast forest assessment, I will still take you as my disciple."
Chi Yu was also moved by Zhang Ergou's madness.
Unlike the elders on the main platform, the disciples in the viewing stands could only describe Zhang Ergou's performance with astonishment.
"This is incredible, such severe injuries, and he's already recovering?"
They couldn't discern what Zhang Ergou was doing, only faintly perceiving the changes in his body.
Zhang Ergou's body at this moment was much better than before, and his injuries were slowly healing.
The torn flesh and blood were replaced by newly grown flesh, soft and tender, like an infant's skin.
"What was Zhang Ergou doing just now?"
"He looks so terrifying!"
"He endured for so long, his flesh and blood seemed to separate, and now it's eerily healed."
The surging celestial and earthly spiritual energy gradually obscured everyone's vision, and the elders on the main platform could only extend a trace of their divine sense to feel Zhang Ergou's changes.
Gradually, the bluestone battle stage seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious veil, enveloping Zhang Ergou.
"The commotion of this kid's breakthrough is too great. Even ordinary Golden Core cultivators don't draw such immense celestial and earthly spiritual energy when breaking through."
Zhang Ergou, at the center of the swirling spiritual energy, had his Dan Hai completely open, absorbing the celestial and earthly spiritual energy with great intensity.
The spiritual energy that entered his body was rapidly refined by the spiritual fire, transforming into pure spiritual energy that flowed directly towards his Dan Hai.
*Pop, pop, pop!*
Strange sounds echoed from within Zhang Ergou's body, and the shackles that confined his meridians were instantly broken.
Then, celestial and earthly spiritual energy surged madly into his Dan Hai.
His meridians also expanded by more than double, and the spiritual energy in his Dan Hai frantically cleansed them.
"Comfortable!"
Zhang Ergou let out a soft sigh, unexpectedly benefiting from misfortune and breaking through in such a setting.
As the celestial and earthly spiritual energy gradually dissipated, Zhang Ergou's body reappeared.
*Hoo!*
He exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing past.
Glancing around and adapting to his surroundings, Zhang Ergou stood up directly, his body emitting a series of cracking sounds.
Zhang Ergou had never felt so refreshed, feeling his entire body filled with strength.
"Good disciple, have you broken through?" Seeing Zhang Ergou stand up, Chunyang Sanren quickly flashed over from the perimeter.
"Yes, Master. My breakthrough is purely by chance."
Zhang Ergou nodded, his face showing relief from having escaped death.
"Kid, you're too reckless! How dare you take Bone Shattering Pills at such a time? Aren't you afraid of death?"
Chunyang and the other two looked stern, their concern for Zhang Ergou evident.
"Master, I didn't take any Bone Shattering..."
"Hush!" Chunyang Sanren said softly, "Your Master understands."
...
The outer sect competition, which had lasted for three days and three nights, finally concluded. Zhang Ergou, with his mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, single-handedly defeated two true disciples.
After the resurrection round, he forcefully broke through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment, instantly becoming the most talked-about figure throughout the outer sect of the Misty Sect.
Zhang Ergou's name was permanently etched into everyone's hearts. This disciple, who had been in the outer sect of the Misty Sect for less than half a year, had created one legend after another.
The outer sect competition ended, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.
The disciples who won the competition and advanced were all jubilant.
Those who lost were dejected and more determined to enter seclusion and cultivate.
The outer sect of the Misty Sect returned to its usual tranquility...
That night, Zhang Ergou emerged from the Treasure Pill Pavilion, holding Qiao Yanyun's jade token and heading straight for the Spiritual Medicine Garden.
His cultivation breakthrough had even brought about a significant change in his divine sense.
Now, Zhang Ergou could refine Grade Two elixirs. Although his technique was a bit clumsy, and his control over the flames was somewhat awkward, seeing a batch of perfectly round Grade Two elixirs floating before his eyes revealed the genuine joy within the young man.
Unlike his previous visits to the Spiritual Medicine Garden, this time Zhang Ergou heard no strange sounds.
He paid no mind to these matters and headed directly into the depths of the garden.
With Qiao Yanyun's jade token, the Spiritual Medicine Garden was like his own backyard. Like a bandit, Zhang Ergou would spot a patch of medicinal herbs and pluck them clean.
After entering the inner sect, he would have fewer opportunities to come to the Spiritual Medicine Garden.
Therefore, Zhang Ergou exerted all his might, plundering the medicinal herbs in the garden with abandon.
Whether he recognized the herbs or not, whether they were common or rare, he took hundreds of each kind.
"Alchemy consumes a great deal of medicinal ingredients. There won't be such good opportunities later. It's better to take more now, and it won't be wrong," he muttered to himself, giving himself a righteous justification.
He continued to pick herbs for over an hour, his several storage rings already filled to the brim, yet he was still not satisfied.
*Hoo!*
"These medicinal herbs should last for a while. They should be enough to support me in breaking through to the Golden Core stage."
After filling his last storage ring, Zhang Ergou stood up and let out a long sigh.
As he prepared to turn back, he suddenly remembered the mysterious cliff deep within the Spiritual Medicine Garden.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Zhang Ergou went to the cliff again.
The cliff remained steep. Peeking over the edge, he saw dark mist obscuring the cliff's original appearance, casting a veil over it.
*Buzz!*
Suddenly, the spiritual fire within him began to tremble, its shaking as if it were afraid of something.
Zhang Ergou even felt the spiritual fire shrink back into his Dan Hai, not daring to come out.
"What is down there that can make you so afraid?" Zhang Ergou asked, looking at the mist-shrouded cliff.
Suddenly, a faint breeze blew, and Zhang Ergou shivered involuntarily.
He instinctively observed his surroundings and then leaned over to look into the depths of the cliff again.
The mist was becoming increasingly strange, sending a chill down his spine.
"This place is peculiar; it's not suitable to linger," Zhang Ergou decided to retreat immediately.
However, the moment he turned, a powerful suction force emerged, pinning him in place...