"Zhang Ergou is too slippery, constantly dodging Senior Sister Liao's attacks," the inner disciples discussed animatedly in the plaza.
Everyone had a different opinion on why the two hadn't decided a winner after such a long time. Most inner disciples disdained Zhang Ergou's approach.
However, the faces of the other forty-nine experts on the Wind and Cloud Ranking turned grim. They understood Liao Yiyi's combat prowess better than anyone, having all been beaten by her before. Although Zhang Ergou appeared to be at a disadvantage, constantly evading Liao Yiyi's assaults, those with keen eyes could see that he wasn't using his full strength. He was merely defending, not launching any offense.
The winner was obvious. They themselves lacked the ability to withstand Liao Yiyi's relentless attacks for so long. The longest anyone had lasted under Liao Yiyi's onslaught was a mere hundred moves.
The Wind and Cloud Stage was now riddled with potholes, a sorry sight. Liao Yiyi's attacks, aimed at Zhang Ergou, had all landed on the stage, disfiguring its surface. Zhang Ergou, meanwhile, was like a slippery loach.
"Aurora Curse!" Liao Yiyi unleashed her signature technique once more. While the Aurora Curse consumed a considerable amount of her energy, its damage to the enemy was undeniable. The first time she cast it, Zhang Ergou had evaded it with his superior speed. This time, however, Liao Yiyi was prepared and would not let him escape again. Compared to before, the Aurora Curse's might had significantly increased, its attack range ten times larger than before. The entire Wind and Cloud Stage was engulfed in the Aurora Curse's attack radius. If Zhang Ergou wished to dodge, his only option was to leap off the stage, the outcome of which was self-evident.
Zhang Ergou's brow furrowed. Faced with the oncoming Aurora Curse, he had nowhere to run.
"Condense," he grunted. First, he conjured a spiritual energy shield around himself. In an instant, as the Aurora Curse's attack neared, Zhang Ergou rapidly formed hand seals, chanting incantations. He first created a golden vortex around himself, enveloping him. Then, the space around him seemed to twist, and the Aurora Curse's radiance appeared to be obstructed.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! How can anyone block the Aurora Curse's radiance?" The experts on the Wind and Cloud Ranking were stunned, their expressions filled with disbelief. Many of them had lost to Liao Yiyi precisely because they had no way to counter her Aurora Curse. The curse's radiance was overwhelmingly potent, corroding everything it touched. Yet, the unnamed spell Zhang Ergou had unleashed could block it. How could these prodigies not be astonished? They had never found such a formidable technique in the inner sect's library. Could this fellow have encountered some fortuitous encounter?
Unbeknownst to them, Zhang Ergou had only tried it out of curiosity. His previously cultivated spells and attack methods were indeed useless against the Aurora Curse. However, the inheritance he received from the secret realm altar had not only improved his cultivation but also provided him with techniques like the spatial distortion spell he had just used.
High above, the Heavenly Dao elder, who had been watching the Wind and Cloud Stage, narrowed his eyes. He had indeed noticed the extraordinary nature of Zhang Ergou's move. This was not something an ordinary Golden Core cultivator could perform. The terrifying nature of spatial power, let alone controlling it, was immense. Yet, Zhang Ergou had seemingly executed it with ease, further astonishing the Heavenly Dao elder. This young man continued to surprise him. He had secretly mastered spatial power. Although Zhang Ergou's technique was still somewhat clumsy, the Heavenly Dao elder saw his future potential. Spatial power required immense comprehension. But once mastered, its destructive capability increased exponentially. If Zhang Ergou couldn't control the spatial power he was currently wielding, it would cause terrible harm to the surrounding disciples.
In an instant, the Heavenly Dao elder teleported above the Wind and Cloud Stage. With a wave of his hand, an invisible shield descended upon the stage. Although the stage had formations, the Heavenly Dao elder added another layer of security as a precaution.
Liao Yiyi's delicate brows furrowed. Her previously invincible Aurora Curse had failed to harm Zhang Ergou twice now, a significant blow to her morale. "I don't believe it! Hmph." Liao Yiyi continued to infuse spiritual energy, her Aurora Curse glowing even more brilliantly. The surface of the Wind and Cloud Stage was sliced into dense fragments by the curse's radiance. However, as the light approached Zhang Ergou, it changed direction, entering the unassuming vortex and disappearing...
Liao Yiyi gasped in shock. She felt the light approaching Zhang Ergou's vortex lose contact with her, as if it had vanished into thin air, taken to another place, disappearing without a trace. Zhang Ergou himself was not faring well. Although the Aurora Curse's radiance had not harmed him, this was the first time he had used such spatial power, and its consumption was enormous. He took out another pill to replenish his spiritual energy and swallowed it. In just a few seconds, this was the fifth spiritual replenishment pill Zhang Ergou had consumed. If not for his ample collection, he wouldn't have lasted long. Merely maintaining the vortex around him had depleted his spiritual energy two or three times. If Liao Yiyi persisted any longer, he would likely be the one to fall...
Although Zhang Ergou had been reluctant to accept Liao Yiyi's challenge three days prior, once on the battlefield, he had never considered admitting defeat. He didn't want to lose like this. Zhang Ergou again took out two more pills and swallowed them, his nearly depleted spiritual energy being replenished. The wavering vortex stabilized somewhat.
However, this situation couldn't continue. Liao Yiyi's control over the Aurora Curse was far more precise than his control over the vortex. Seeing Zhang Ergou's inaction, Liao Yiyi changed tactics. She controlled the Aurora Curse's radiance to shrink its range, focusing it solely on Zhang Ergou's vicinity. This significantly reduced her consumption while increasing the pressure on Zhang Ergou. If it came down to a battle of attrition, Zhang Ergou would surely lose to her. Liao Yiyi had thought of this method after seeing Zhang Ergou repeatedly consume several pills. The results were surprisingly effective. "I'll risk it!" Zhang Ergou gritted his teeth and, with a surge of determination, pulled out another handful of pills.