Chapter 187 - 117: Embracing Pill, Today

Mo Tingzhu’s eyes widened.

Bai Xuan was also listening, completely captivated.

Ever since she was a child, she had heard all sorts of stories about the Jianghu. Tales of young heroes like this were things she thought only existed in storybooks.

’Could it really be true?’

Bai Xuan couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle Zhou, that Zhang Su... how old is he?"

"Junior Brother Zhang should be less than twenty this year."

Zhou Peng replied.

"Less than twenty..."

Bai Xuan murmured, her eyes filled with amazement.

Mo Tingzhu let out a long sigh, filled with emotion. "The younger generation is truly formidable..."

The Zhang Su he had met back then was strong, yes, winning two consecutive matches inside Celestial Eagle Tower, but at the time, Zhang Su only had an Outer Force Cultivation. He was far from possessing the kind of power he did later.

And in such a short time, Zhang Su was already capable of killing masters like Jiang Taizhen and Dugu Jian.

A peculiar feeling, hard to describe, suddenly bloomed in Mo Tingzhu’s heart.

It was a mix of wistfulness and envy.

"Heh heh, Medicine Valley is coming on strong this time, and they’ve gotten quite close with the Five Elements Sect. I’m afraid the Three Sects Exchange Conference won’t be a peaceful one."

Xie Guanchao had heard many rumors.

Something about a certain genius from the Five Elements Sect.

And a once-in-a-generation genius from Medicine Valley.

Each of them had a reputation that was soaring to the heavens.

They all wanted to take the top spot at this Three Sects Exchange Conference and make a name for themselves in a single battle!

After all, the current Celestial Prides of the Three Sects had all participated in the conference back in their day. They too had dominated the competition, made their mark, and later, step by step, became their Sect’s Celestial Prides.

Xie Guanchao put down his wine cup and gestured with his hands as he spoke, "I heard the Five Elements Sect has someone named Zhou Dingshan. He’s not old either, but his Swordsmanship is outstanding. Within the Five Elements Sect, he’s called a once-in-a-century genius, said to be catching up to their Celestial Pride, Shi Buyi."

"And Medicine Valley, they supposedly have a female disciple, what’s her name... Ye Ling? She’s also exceptionally talented and has mastered a terrifying form of Martial Arts, making her nearly invincible among her peers."

Hearing Xie Guanchao talk about these geniuses, Zhou Peng simply shook his head.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces before he said, "Geniuses? Who among them can outshine our Junior Brother Zhang Su?"

Zhou Peng smiled.

His smile was tinged with pride.

After all, Zhang Su was a disciple of the Guiyuan Sect. The greater Zhang Su’s fame, the more honor it brought to everyone in the Guiyuan Sect.

"Junior Brother Zhang Su?"

Xie Guanchao was slightly taken aback. He then put down his wine cup and lowered his voice.

"Senior Brother Zhou, I know the rumors have been flying around the Inner Sect, but I still have to ask. Did Junior Brother Zhang Su really kill an Embracing Pill master while in the Huajin realm? I just find it so hard to believe..."

Xie Guanchao’s words sent a shock through both Mo Tingzhu and Bai Xuan.

Mo Tingzhu’s wine cup froze mid-air, the liquor inside trembling slightly.

Bai Xuan’s eyes widened even more, her mouth falling slightly agape in an expression of pure disbelief.

"Brother Zhou, did Brother Xie just say that Zhang Su killed an Embracing Pill master while in the Huajin realm? That..."

Mo Tingzhu couldn’t believe it.

It sounded like a tall tale.

He had never heard of anyone in the Jianghu capable of killing a Pill Force master while in the Huajin realm.

If it was true, it would be an unprecedented feat!

He still remembered seeing Zhang Su once at Celestial Eagle Tower.

But no matter what, he never would have imagined that Zhang Su would not only become a Huajin Martial Artist but also be capable of killing an Embracing Pill master, a feat that defied the natural order.

Bai Xuan couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "A Huajin killing an Embracing Pill... isn’t that even more exaggerated than what they write in the storybooks..."

Zhou Peng’s gaze swept over Mo Tingzhu and Xie Guanchao.

He took a deep breath and said in a low, serious voice, "Two months ago, Medicine Valley Elder Zhou Jing came to our Sect to demand an explanation from the Sect Leader. I was in the Sect Grand Hall at the time and saw it with my own eyes. Zhang Su admitted to it. He even has Hidden Sword Manor’s Ouyang Yin’s personal sword in his possession."

Zhou Peng’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word landed with weight and conviction.

He paused, then added, "The rumors outside aren’t exaggerated in the slightest. Zhang Su, with the body of a Huajin, truly did kill an Embracing Pill master, achieving an unprecedented feat! At this Three Sects Exchange Conference, unless a new Celestial Pride is born, who could possibly outshine Zhang Su?"

Xie Guanchao, Mo Tingzhu, and Bai Xuan all listened, their hearts soaring with fascination.

A Huajin killing a Pill Force master!

Unheard of!

Mo Tingzhu said with emotion, "I’ve heard of Ouyang Yin from Hidden Sword Manor. They say that thirty years ago, Ouyang Yin was already roaming the Jianghu with his sword. He was Hidden Sword Manor’s Stabilizing Needle. To think he would actually be killed by Zhang Su."

If he hadn’t heard it from Zhou Peng himself, he would never have believed it.

Hidden Sword Manor had stood firm in the Jianghu for many years, and Ouyang Yin was an Embracing Pill master who had been famous for a long time.

For such a powerhouse to die at the hands of a young man not even twenty years old.

Mo Tingzhu suddenly felt that after all his years of wandering the Jianghu, he had accomplished nothing of note.

"Senior Brother Zhou, do you think Zhang Su can become our Guiyuan Sect’s new Celestial Pride?"

Xie Guanchao suddenly asked.

"A Celestial Pride?"

Zhou Peng was slightly taken aback.

Xie Guanchao nodded. "Yes, a Sect’s Celestial Pride. Zhang Su’s reputation now is no less than that of any other Celestial Pride, right? If he could become the Sect’s Celestial Pride, then our Guiyuan Sect’s prestige..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was obvious.

Zhou Peng fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"A Celestial Pride from the Inner Sect... it’s difficult!"

Zhou Peng shook his head.

Even Yu Hualong only became a Celestial Pride of the Guiyuan Sect after he advanced to the Postnatal Realm and became a True Disciple.

To become a Sect’s Celestial Pride while still an Inner Sect Disciple... it wasn’t unheard of in the history of the Guiyuan Sect, but you could count the instances on one hand.

Even Shi Buyi of the Five Elements Sect only became their Celestial Pride after breaking through to the Postnatal Realm.