Chapter 205 - 121: The Center of Attention, Zhang Su is Here

In the Medicine Valley, there were quite a few disciples like her, so-called "Celestial Pride candidates."

Who would ultimately become a true Celestial Pride would be determined by a comprehensive evaluation of various factors.

This Three-Sect Exchange was of great significance.

Moreover, the prize for first place was the Cyan Wood Spirit Pill, a pill she was determined to win!

Ye Ling’s gaze passed through the crowd and landed on Zhang Su.

She only glanced at him for a moment before looking away.

’Zhang Su... to kill an Embracing Pill master at the Huajin realm is indeed an unprecedented feat. Perhaps in ten years, he’ll be a formidable rival, but in this Three-Sect Exchange, he stands no chance. At most, he’ll take first place in the competition for those below the Pill Force realm and win a Condensing Strength Pill.

’But a Condensing Strength Pill is of little significance to a genius like him.’

Ye Ling’s thoughts were dispassionate.

Her assessment was calm.

She admitted that Zhang Su’s talent was indeed very high.

Killing an Embracing Pill master at the Huajin realm was truly unprecedented.

But she knew even more clearly that Zhang Su was not yet her competitor.

Her greatest rival was Zhou Dingshan of the Five Elements Sect.

Ye Ling’s gaze shifted toward the Five Elements Sect’s area.

She saw Zhou Dingshan.

And likewise, Zhou Dingshan was looking at her.

Their gazes collided in mid-air.

Zhou Dingshan was tall and burly, with the build of a tiger and the back of a bear. The black martial arts attire he wore was stretched taut over his body, revealing clearly defined muscles.

He had a rugged face with thick brows and large eyes. Below his chin was a circle of short whiskers like steel needles, and his entire being exuded a fierce aura.

’Ye Ling, huh? It seems if I want to obtain that Cyan Wood Spirit Pill this time, I’ll have to get past her...’

Zhou Dingshan thought to himself.

He withdrew his gaze, a confident smile touching the corners of his lips.

"Senior Brother Zhou, that Zhang Su is the one who killed Dugu Jian. There are even rumors now that he killed an Embracing Pill master while at the Huajin realm. His fame is so great that he could be called the most renowned among the young disciples of the Three Sects."

A disciple from the Five Elements Sect spoke up.

He was sitting next to Zhou Dingshan, dressed in black martial arts attire.

"Zhang Su... Pay him no mind. Senior Brother Shi Buyi will personally handle the matter with Dugu Jian; we don’t need to concern ourselves with it. Besides, he’s only at the Huajin realm. No matter how strong he is, he can only participate in the competition for those below Pill Force. He can’t take the Cyan Wood Spirit Pill,"

Zhou Dingshan said coolly.

His gaze merely swept over Zhang Su for a moment before he paid him no more attention.

He knew that among the younger generation of the Three Sects, Zhang Su was currently the most famous.

But he was unconcerned.

His thoughts were the same as Ye Ling’s.

No matter how strong Zhang Su was, he was no threat to him.

The Cyan Wood Spirit Pill was a rare treasure that one could only stumble upon by chance, not seek out deliberately.

This Spirit Pill was available at this year’s Three-Sect Exchange, but there was no guarantee it would be there next time.

As for Zhang Su becoming his rival?

He’d have to reach the Gang Force realm first.

By the time Zhang Su reached the Gang Force realm, he himself would have long since broken through to the Postnatal Realm.

This wasn’t just Ye Ling’s and Zhou Dingshan’s opinion; in fact, many Gang Force Martial Artists thought the same.

When they looked at Zhang Su, their gazes held only a hint of surprise, but they did not see him as a rival.

No matter how much of a genius Zhang Su was, he was still far from their level.

They treated the rumors about Zhang Su as nothing more than idle gossip.

Zhang Su didn’t notice the gazes from Ye Ling and Zhou Dingshan.

After all, far too many eyes were on him.

At that moment, inside the Martial Arts Arena, many disciples of the Guiyuan Sect automatically cleared a path for Zhang Su.

But Zhang Su didn’t know where to go.

He stood at the entrance to the Martial Arts Arena, his gaze sweeping across the spectator stands.

When the Guiyuan Sect disciples saw him, they all made way.

Some nodded and smiled, some clasped their fists in salute, and others whispered amongst themselves.

Zhang Su returned each gesture, his expression impassive.

"Junior Brother Zhang, over here!"

Just then, Xie Guanchao shouted loudly.

He was standing in the front row of the western stands, waving vigorously at Zhang Su.

His voice was loud, echoing across the Martial Arts Arena.

Zhang Su raised his head slightly and saw Xie Guanchao and Zhou Peng.

He didn’t know many people in the Guiyuan Sect, but he was definitely very familiar with Xie Guanchao and Zhou Peng.

They had practically been through life and death together back in Hengshan County.

Therefore, Zhang Su immediately started walking toward Xie Guanchao and Zhou Peng.

His pace was unhurried, and as he passed through the crowd, people on both sides automatically parted for him.

"Ah... Zhang Su actually came..."

Bai Xuan was usually lively and outgoing.

But now, she appeared reserved and nervous.

She sat beside her master, her hands on her knees and her back ramrod straight.

Her eyes were fixed on the direction from which Zhang Su was approaching.

Mo Tingzhu glanced at his disciple, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Xie, and... Hero Mo is here too?"

Zhang Su walked up to the three of them and spoke.

His gaze paused on Mo Tingzhu for a moment, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Young Hero Zhang, we parted ways at the Celestial Eagle Tower, and now when we meet again, things are completely different... Killing an Embracing Pill master at the Huajin realm... if Brother Zhou hadn’t told me, I truly wouldn’t have believed it."

Mo Tingzhu’s voice was filled with emotion.

He stood up and clasped his fists in a salute to Zhang Su.

Zhang Su returned the salute.

The two looked at each other, neither speaking.

Mo Tingzhu looked at Zhang Su, his heart filled with a mixture of complicated feelings.

That time at the Celestial Eagle Tower, Zhang Su was only at the Outer Force realm.

Back then, he had thought this young man was promising and had potential.

But he never could have imagined that in less than a year, Zhang Su would have grown to such a degree.

Killing an Embracing Pill master at the Huajin realm.

That was a feat he could never accomplish in his entire lifetime.

"Hero Mo, you flatter me."

Zhang Su said calmly.

He glanced at Zhou Peng, Xie Guanchao, and Mo Tingzhu, then asked, "Are the three of you planning to participate in the competition for those below the Pill Force realm?"

"That’s right. The top three in the competition for those below Pill Force can get a Condensing Strength Pill. Although we probably won’t be able to place, let alone make the top three, we still want to take part in such a grand event."

Zhou Peng paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "Junior Brother Zhang, you’re guaranteed to get one of those Condensing Strength Pills. After all, with your current strength, who among the Huajin Martial Artists can still be your opponent?"

His tone was certain.

Zhang Su’s strength was beyond question.

As long as Zhang Su participated in the competition, he was certain to walk away with a Condensing Strength Pill.

Mo Tingzhu, Xie Guanchao, and Zhou Peng all looked at Zhang Su with envy.

A Condensing Strength Pill... For Zhang Su, it was as easy as flipping his palm, but for them, it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

They believed that after Zhang Su obtained the Condensing Strength Pill, it wouldn’t be long before he could reach the Embracing Pill realm.

At that point, Zhang Su would truly ascend to the heavens in a single step!

Perhaps in ten or twenty years, Zhang Su might even have a slight chance to contend for the position of the Sect’s Celestial Pride!

The eyes of the three men held both envy and a sense of wonder.

"There are three Condensing Strength Pills. The three of you aren’t necessarily without a chance,"

Zhang Su said.

"What do you mean, three? Junior Brother Zhang will definitely get one, so the other Huajin Martial Artists can at best only fight for the other two. Our chances are slim..."

Xie Guanchao let out a long sigh.

He shook his head, a bitter smile on his face.

Zhou Peng and Mo Tingzhu also fell silent.

Xie Guanchao was speaking the truth.

If Zhang Su participated in the competition for those below Pill Force, there was no doubt he would take first place.

The other Huajin Martial Artists could only compete for second and third place.

With hundreds of people vying for two spots, the difficulty was immense.

"Actually... I didn’t register for the competition for those below the Pill Force realm."

Zhang Su said slowly.

Hearing this, Zhou Peng, Xie Guanchao, Mo Tingzhu, and even Bai Xuan were all slightly startled, completely stunned.