Chapter 193 - 119: Really Becoming a Celestial Pride

"Embracing Pill?"

At that moment, all eyes fell upon Zhang Su.

Whether it was the Sect Leader, Meng Shouzhen, the Ten Great Martial Vein Masters, or the Postnatal Realm Elders, their faces were all filled with shock.

Meng Shouzhen, in particular, remembered clearly that Zhang Su had accepted the Celestial Pride Trial.

And the very first test of the Celestial Pride Trial was to reach the Embracing Pill stage within two years.

But how long had it taken Zhang Su?

A little over six months.

In less than seven months, he had already reached the Embracing Pill stage.

Such speed... was simply unbelievable!

In his more than twenty years as the head of the Guiyuan Sect, Meng Shouzhen had seen countless talented disciples.

But as for someone like Zhang Su... when the Celestial Pride Trial was proposed, Zhang Su had only been at the Inner Force stage.

To go from the Inner Force to the Embracing Pill stage in less than seven months was exceedingly rare in the entire history of the Guiyuan Sect.

"Zhang Su, are you certain? You must not speak recklessly before so many Elders..."

Zhao Qianfeng could no longer remain seated.

His voice was even trembling.

’He’s reached the Embracing Pill stage already?’

Although he believed in his disciple, Zhang Su’s speed was simply too fast.

In his entire life, Zhao Qianfeng had never been considered a major figure in the Guiyuan Sect.

While his aptitude wasn’t poor, there were many whose talent surpassed his own.

In his youth, he had been full of vigor and ventured into the Jianghu, but a fight left his leg injured and permanently disabled.

After that, he was sent to the Instructor Pavilion to live out his days.

His presence within the Sect was minimal.

So minimal that many young disciples didn’t even know an Elder like him existed.

But just when he thought his life would continue on like that forever, Zhang Su appeared.

He had originally recommended Zhang Su to Bamboo Sword Peak, but was rejected by its master, Qu Zhengliu. Afterward, he took Zhang Su in as his own disciple.

From then on, Zhang Su accomplished one astonishing feat after another.

Achieving Three Stars in One Day, killing Wei Yunzhou in the ring, shining brilliantly in the struggle for the Hengshan County ore vein, slaying Jiang Taizhen and Dugu Jian, and helping the Guiyuan Sect seize the iron ore vein in Hengshan County.

Then he slew an Embracing Pill expert while still at the Huajin stage, shocking the entire Guiyuan Sect.

And now, less than seven months after returning from Hengshan County, Zhang Su had actually reached the Embracing Pill stage!

Zhao Qianfeng felt that ever since taking on Zhang Su, he was met with one pleasant surprise after another.

Zhang Su offered no explanation. Instead, with a mere thought, he instantly circulated his Pure Yang Force.

At once, a flawless aura emanated from him.

Its characteristics were unmistakable.

It was an aura that only an Embracing Pill Martial Artist could possess.

This aura was whole and complete, perfectly integrated and unobstructed, radiating a gentle presence.

It wasn’t sharp and exposed like that of the Outer Force stage, nor was it obscure and hard to discern like that of the Inner Force stage.

The aura of the Embracing Pill stage is one of flawless Perfection.

Everyone present was a Martial Artist of profound Cultivation.

The Ten Great Martial Vein Masters were all top-tier experts within the Postnatal Realm.

The other Elders also possessed profound Cultivation.

Their perception of the Embracing Pill aura was sharper than anyone’s.

When the aura spread from Zhang Su’s body, everyone felt it.

This scene erased any last shred of doubt. Zhang Su had truly reached the Embracing Pill stage!

The atmosphere in the great hall instantly ignited.

"Zhang Su... has already reached the Embracing Pill stage? Truly unbelievable!"

A white-haired Elder stroked his beard, shaking his head repeatedly.

He had been in the Guiyuan Sect for a full sixty years and had seen too many so-called geniuses.

But he had never seen anyone like Zhang Su before.

"Is this the Cultivation speed of a Dharma Protector Disciple? Even the disciples of the Inheritance Sequence can’t compare."

Another Elder added.

"I recall that Yu Hualong reached the Embracing Pill stage at sixteen, didn’t he? Zhang Su seems to be only seventeen. His Cultivation speed isn’t much different from Yu Hualong’s."

The moment the name "Yu Hualong" was spoken, the discussions in the great hall grew even louder.

Yu Hualong, the Guiyuan Sect’s only current Sect’s Celestial Pride.

He entered the Inner Sect at thirteen, reached the Embracing Pill stage at sixteen, developed Inner Strength and broke through to the Postnatal Realm at twenty, and was promoted to a True Inheritor.

He was an object of admiration for countless young disciples.

But now, someone was comparing Zhang Su to Yu Hualong.

"Yu Hualong entered the Inner Sect at thirteen and reached the Embracing Pill stage at sixteen. While he achieved that at a younger age than Zhang Su, if you look at the time it took to get from Huajin to Embracing Pill, Zhang Su only needed about seven months. Even Yu Hualong can’t compare to that."

An Elder said slowly.

His words were very fair.

Yu Hualong was indeed outstanding, but it had taken him a full year to go from the Huajin stage to Embracing Pill.

Zhang Su, however, had used less than seven months.

The difference was obvious to anyone with discerning eyes.

In reality, these Elders didn’t even know the full story.

When Zhang Su returned from Hengshan County, he had only been at the Inner Force stage.

"With such speed, could Zhang Su be our Guiyuan Sect’s next Sect’s Celestial Pride?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the great hall fell silent once more.

Sect’s Celestial Pride—the weight of those three words was immense.

The Guiyuan Sect had been founded for several hundred years, and a line of Celestial Prides had emerged through the generations.

Every Celestial Pride was a pillar supporting the Sect, a figure capable of carrying the Guiyuan Sect’s banner.

The last Celestial Pride was Yu Hualong.

The one before him had appeared several decades ago.

And now, the next Celestial Pride might be standing right before them.

At that moment, the Ten Great Martial Vein Masters and the numerous Elders were in an uproar.

Many even began directly comparing him to Yu Hualong.

But after careful comparison, they discovered that Zhang Su’s Cultivation speed was actually not much different from Yu Hualong’s.

Moreover, Zhang Su had his own advantages.

Zhang Su had slain an Embracing Pill expert while at the Huajin stage. This level of combat prowess was far greater than what Yu Hualong had possessed at the time.

When Yu Hualong was at the Huajin stage, he had never managed to slay an Embracing Pill expert.

The Elders knew very well that the gap between the Huajin and Embracing Pill stages was like a great chasm, almost impossible to cross.