Hearing the sound, Zhang Ergou turned his head, his eyes narrowing.
The person walking towards him felt no weaker than the one in front of him.
"Another true disciple from Qiuyang Peak, ranked the same as Jiang Hao, named Lu Yan," Xiong Bao subtly transmitted to Zhang Ergou.
"One foot already in the Golden Core stage!" Faced with the two of them, Zhang Ergou was slightly stunned, his brows furrowing tightly.
Even at his peak, he would likely lose more than he would win against the two of them.
Moreover, looking at the restless crowd behind them, the fact that the true disciples from both peaks had appeared clearly indicated they didn't intend to let him leave so easily.
Zhang Ergou fell into a dilemma. Unless his combat power soared, it would be impossible to defeat the people before him, but such thoughts were mere fantasy. Improving combat power was never that easy.
A bitter smile crept onto Zhang Ergou's lips. It seemed he was destined to be defeated today.
"Zhang Ergou, I advise you to go to the training grounds obediently, don't make us carry you there!" Jiang Hao sneered at Zhang Ergou.
"Senior Brother Jiang, combat on the training grounds is entirely voluntary. Are you going to force me to participate? Are you not afraid of the Disciplinary Hall's punishment?" Zhang Ergou retorted coldly, looking sternly at Jiang Hao.
"So what? At worst, we'll all accept punishment and meditate for half a month!" Lu Yan smirked playfully, clearly well aware of the Disciplinary Hall's rules.
"Bullies preying on the weak, the many ganging up on the few. This is how disciples from your Xiayang Peak and Qiuyang Peak conduct yourselves."
The little胖子 Xiong Bao glared at everyone before him, shouting indignantly.
"Have those two old men, Qiuyang and Xiayang, no shame?"
"To teach such disciples is truly a disgrace."
Xiong Bao's clear voice echoed across the training grounds, causing Jiang Hao and Lu Yan's expressions to change.
They hadn't expected this little胖子 to dare to speak their masters' names directly and insult them.
"Let's go, Ergou, let's go." The little胖子 Xiong Bao then grabbed Zhang Ergou and prepared to leave.
"Want to leave? It's not that simple." As he spoke, a palm strike surged towards Zhang Ergou's back.
Zhang Ergou's eyes turned cold. He hadn't expected a disciple from Qiuyang Peak to be so shameless as to resort to a sneak attack.
In a hurry, Zhang Ergou spun around abruptly and hastily countered with a palm strike.
*Bang!*
With a loud crash, the severely injured Zhang Ergou was struck, suffering internal injuries, and spat out a mouthful of blood.
*Zing!*
Before Zhang Ergou could stabilize his retreating figure, another Xiayang Peak disciple thrust a sword from the side, aiming directly for Zhang Ergou's ribs.
"Utterly shameless!" Xiong Bao roared, swinging his club and joining the fray.
He narrowly blocked the incoming sword for Zhang Ergou.
This was not the end. Someone else from the crowd attacked, launching a punch straight at Zhang Ergou's back.
Zhang Ergou coughed up blood profusely once more.
"My junior brother, Zi Lin, is also someone you people can bully?"
Suddenly, a thunderous voice rang out, and a purple figure rapidly flew in.
A purple light flashed, and before landing, it stirred up a storm.
"Who is it, playing tricks here?" Jiang Hao asked, looking at the dissipating dust.
"What, after only a few dozen days in seclusion, have you become so arrogant that you don't recognize me?" As the dust cleared, a petite and delicate figure appeared.
"How could it be her?" A wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
Lu Yan, Jiang Hao, and the others' faces instantly changed as they saw the newcomer, their eyes widening in disbelief.
Some even rubbed their eyes, as if to confirm they weren't mistaken.
"Why is this demon here? What did she just say?"
"It sounded like she said Zhang Ergou is her junior brother!"
"Heavens, how is that possible!"
The surroundings exploded. The arrival of the newcomer was completely unexpected for everyone.
Even Zhang Ergou was somewhat dazed by the sight of the petite figure.
"Junior brother, she just said I'm her junior brother? She must be mistaken!" Zhang Ergou was also completely bewildered.
Although he had been in Piaomiao Sect for a few months, Zhang Ergou was not familiar with the disciples of Chunyang Peak, let alone had any close relationships with them.
He was, at most, a stranger!
"Ergou, little胖子, come to my side." Zi Lin called out to Zhang Ergou and the other.
"Got it, boss! You're finally here. Otherwise, Zhang Ergou and I would have been crippled by these bottomless scoundrels today."
The little胖子 Xiong Bao agilely twisted his body and swiftly flashed to Zi Lin's side.
Zhang Ergou also hurried to move. This was an excellent opportunity for protection. Despite his doubts, his feet couldn't stop.
Quickly moving to Zi Lin's side, Zhang Ergou finally felt at ease.
"You said I'm your junior brother? What's going on?" Zhang Ergou asked, looking down. Zi Lin, whom he had known for some time, had never mentioned such a relationship.
"Shh! Too many eyes and ears here, it's better not to reveal it. I'll explain slowly once we leave here."
Zi Lin glanced at Zhang Ergou and offered no explanation.
Instead, she turned to face the disciples of Xiayang Peak and Qiuyang Peak. Her small body seemed to possess immense power.
This deterred the true disciples from approaching.
This scene caused some people in the stands to feel perplexed.
The true disciples from Xiayang and Qiuyang Peaks, who had been so aggressive moments ago, looking as if they wouldn't rest until Zhang Ergou was captured, showing no mercy.
Now, with Zi Lin's arrival, the situation had reversed entirely. The true disciples from Xiayang and Qiuyang Peaks were intimidated and dared not step forward.
Was this the rumored genius?
Perhaps they were just cowardly bullies with no magnanimity, utterly shameless scoundrels.
Someone thought this silently.
"What? Go on, aren't you not letting Zhang Ergou leave? Want to gang up on him? Come on!" Zi Lin coquettishly challenged Jiang Hao and the others.
"My dear lady, what wind blew you here? This is just a conflict between our two peaks and Zhang Ergou. It doesn't concern you."
Jiang Hao said with a fawning smile, his previous arrogance completely gone.
"Who are you? Do I know you?" Zi Lin widened her round eyes, her Golden Core stage cultivation leaking out slightly.
This immediately made the Xiayang and Qiuyang Peak disciples gasp for breath, the difference in their cultivation levels clearly evident.
"Tell me, who among you is unwilling to let my junior brother and them leave here today?"
Zi Lin demanded, her gaze fixed on Jiang Hao, Lu Yan, and the others. Their faces turned extremely ugly, yet none dared to speak.
"You won't say? Then you all share the blame?"
Zi Lin's aura intensified, and Jiang Hao and Lu Yan's waists bent even lower.
"Zi Lin, does the sect not have a rule that Golden Core stage disciples cannot attack those below the Foundation Establishment stage? What you're doing is a violation of sect regulations."
It's over! Jiang Hao and Lu Yan immediately felt like killing this pig-teammate.
This lady had never feared anyone, and sect rules were like nothing to her!
As expected, it happened just as they predicted.
"Is that so? Then what's wrong with me bullying you with my superior cultivation today?"
Zi Lin's eyes blazed, and she further amplified her aura...