Zhang Ergou turned around and saw Jiang Xu, with a grim expression, striding towards him.
"What a coincidence?"
Seeing his opponent step onto the arena, Zhang Ergou was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected his first opponent to be from the Jiang family.
With the unresolved grievances with Jiang Tian, and the appearance of the brothers Jiang Yu and Jiang Xu, it seemed they had no intention of letting him off the hook.
This was the perfect opportunity to show the Jiang family a thing or two.
Let them understand that not everyone could be provoked.
In Jiang Xu's impression, Zhang Ergou's cultivation level was still at the stage Jiang Tian had reported.
However, when he saw Zhang Ergou test his cultivation a few days prior, he had reached the late Golden Core stage.
This had truly astonished the brothers.
But after discussing it back home, they concluded that Zhang Ergou might have had a fortuitous encounter or consumed a cultivation-boosting pill.
This was the only explanation for breaking through to the late Golden Core stage in just two years.
The Jiang brothers naturally didn't take cultivators who relied on pills to break through seriously.
They had achieved their current accomplishments through years of diligent cultivation.
This was fundamentally different from those who were propped up by family or sect pills.
Zhang Ergou was naturally categorized by them as one of those who relied on pills.
This was further confirmed by Jiang Tian, who had told them that Zhang Ergou not only had a master but had also apprenticed himself to Qiao Yanyun, a fourth-grade alchemist from the Misty Sect.
With an alchemist as a master, there was no shortage of pills.
This further solidified the brothers' belief.
Therefore, when Jiang Xu saw that his opponent was Zhang Ergou, he didn't feel uneasy.
Instead, he felt a surge of excitement.
If he could defeat Zhang Ergou in this match, he would not only avenge his brothers Jiang Tian and Jiang Hao, but he would also erase all of Zhang Ergou's previous achievements.
Especially Zhang Ergou's excellent performance in the second round, the formation trial, which would become a joke.
Looking at Jiang Xu's grim expression, Zhang Ergou knew his opponent's thoughts without needing to guess.
Zhang Ergou had never harbored any mercy for opponents who intended him harm.
"Brother Jiang, does your second brother have a chance to defeat that kid?"
Many people were acquainted with the Jiang brothers.
Seeing Jiang Xu and Zhang Ergou pitted against each other, the crowd immediately started to murmur.
A youth who was on good terms with Jiang Yu glanced at the calm Zhang Ergou on the stage and couldn't help but ask Jiang Yu.
"Rest assured, Xu'er broke through to the late Golden Core stage three years ago."
Jiang Yu appeared completely unconcerned, and seemed to be looking forward to the match.
"This Zhang Ergou supposedly hadn't even reached the Golden Core stage three years ago. To break through several levels in such a short period, his foundation must be unstable."
"I heard from my brother that this Zhang Ergou has an alchemist as his master, so it's likely he relied on pills to break through so quickly."
Looking at the two figures standing on the stage, Jiang Yu was full of confidence in his second brother.
"In that case, this Zhang Ergou is not a threat."
The youth who had asked Jiang Yu even felt a touch of envy for Jiang Xu.
To encounter a late Golden Core cultivator who was essentially built by pills, why didn't he have such good luck?
"Brother Li Zhan, can Brother Ergou win against that guy?"
Liu Yaxuan, seeing Jiang Xu's ferocious expression, couldn't help but worry about Zhang Ergou.
"Don't worry, you know your Brother Ergou well enough."
In truth, Li Zhan didn't really know Zhang Ergou's strength. However, based on his understanding of Zhang Ergou,
Zhang Ergou was definitely not a reckless person.
Moreover, despite his own cultivation, he couldn't fathom Zhang Ergou's true strength.
Therefore, he instinctively believed Zhang Ergou was stronger than himself.
Didn't Zhang Ergou leave everyone far behind in yesterday's formation trial?
Liu Yaxuan was also worried because she had long forgotten Zhang Ergou's battle with Li Kongcai the other day.
After all, Li Kongcai, an elder of the inner sect of the Liuhai Sect, was a genuine late Nascent Soul cultivator.
Could Zhang Ergou, who could fight on par with a late Nascent Soul cultivator, care about a mere late Golden Core cultivator?
"Brother Hua, how many moves do you think this kid will take to defeat his opponent?"
It wasn't just others who were enthusiastically discussing Zhang Ergou and Jiang Xu.
As the host, Mu Chen and Hua Xu were also full of anticipation for Zhang Ergou's performance.
"Hard to say, I estimate within ten moves, he will end the fight."
Based on Zhang Ergou's previous performance, he wasn't someone who craved the spotlight.
Therefore, Hua Xu's guess was somewhat conservative.
He believed Zhang Ergou would definitely hold back, and at least fight for a while at the beginning.
As for Jiang Xu, he had already been sentenced to death by these two powerful figures.
Of course, they hadn't considered the enmity between Zhang Ergou and Jiang Xu.
Just as everyone was buzzing with discussion,
Jiang Xu on the stage couldn't wait any longer and initiated the attack.
He held a long sword, leaped into the air, and thrust the sword forward fiercely.
Instantly, a gust of wind blew, and the clouds shifted.
A sharp sword energy shot straight towards Zhang Ergou on the arena.
"Is he scared stiff? It seems Brother Jiang was right, this kid is truly built by pills."
The youth who was with Jiang Yu saw that Zhang Ergou was still not making a move.
He immediately stopped harboring any doubts about Jiang Yu's words.
Seeing the sword energy unleashed by Jiang Xu transform into a spiritual snake heading straight for Zhang Ergou's head,
If Zhang Ergou didn't react, he would likely die on the spot.
Some people couldn't help but feel pity for Zhang Ergou.
Such a promising talent, lost just like this, it was truly heaven's jealousy of talent.
Zhang Ergou's performance in the formation trial had naturally attracted the attention of some righteous individuals.
Liu Yaxuan's heart leaped into her throat.
"Why hasn't Brother Ergou counterattacked yet?" Su Dan Fiction Network
Li Zhan was also bewildered at this moment. Logically, Zhang Ergou shouldn't be this incompetent.
Yet, Zhang Ergou's performance on the stage had made him look foolish.
Had he misjudged?
For the first time, Li Zhan doubted his own judgment.
"No!" Seeing the spiritual snake formed by the sword energy about to strike Zhang Ergou's head, Liu Yaxuan cried out.
"A mere trick."
Zhang Ergou's calmness appeared to those with lower cultivation as him being scared stiff,
He was so frightened he couldn't make a move to retaliate.
But to cultivators with profound cultivation, Zhang Ergou's actions were not missed in the slightest.
"This kid is truly skilled and audacious, or does he have some other backing?"
Hua Xu frowned as the attack was about to reach Zhang Ergou, and Zhang Ergou still hadn't made any move.
However, something unexpected happened.
The sword energy unleashed by Jiang Xu did reach above Zhang Ergou's head.
But after reaching Zhang Ergou's crown, it could go no further, as if blocked by something.
"Haha, good kid."
Hua Xu burst into laughter. At this moment, he finally understood Zhang Ergou's reliance.
Zhang Ergou and Jiang Xu were not opponents of the same level at all.