Chapter 206 - 122: Zhang Su Takes the Stage, Embracing Pill Cultivation, Everyone is Stunned

"Junior Brother Zhang, you... didn’t sign up for the sub-Pill Force tournament?"

Xie Guanchao took a deep breath and couldn’t help but ask.

Beside him, Zhou Peng also furrowed his brows. And though Mo Tingzhu didn’t speak, his expression was filled with questions.

Zhang Su nodded.

"Why?"

Xie Guanchao pressed.

There was a note of urgency in his voice.

It was no wonder he was anxious.

The Condensing Strength Pill was a treasure coveted by countless Huajin Martial Artists.

It increased the success rate of achieving Embracing Pill by thirty percent. An elixir like that, if it appeared in the Jianghu, would be enough to make countless Huajin Martial Artists kill for it.

And yet here was Zhang Su, not even signing up?

Neither Xie Guanchao, Zhou Peng, nor even Mo Tingzhu and Bai Xuan could understand it.

In their eyes, if Zhang Su participated in the sub-Pill Force tournament, taking first place would be as easy as breathing.

In the entire Huajin realm, who could possibly stop Zhang Su?

Even an Embracing Pill Strongman like Ouyang Yin had died by his sword; Huajin Martial Artists were simply no match for him.

This Condensing Strength Pill was practically being handed to him on a silver platter.

It was his for the taking.

And yet, Zhang Su didn’t want it.

Mo Tingzhu and the others were prepared to fight with their lives for a single Condensing Strength Pill.

As for Zhang Su, it was well within his grasp, yet he wouldn’t even sign up.

"I don’t need the Condensing Strength Pill."

Zhang Su shook his head.

His voice was calm.

The three of them opened their mouths to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

Zhang Su offered no explanation.

It was a long story.

Once the tournament began, they would understand.

As time passed, the Three Sects’ exchange tournament quickly began.

More and more people filled the stands until they were nearly packed.

The Three Sects’ Disciples each occupied their own section, while the Jianghu Cultivators and members of Martial Arts Families crowded into the eastern stands, a densely packed and boisterous mass.

The Guiyuan Sect’s Sect Leader, Meng Shouzhen, and the Ten Great Martial Vein Masters were all in attendance.

Meng Shouzhen wore a deep cyan robe, a Jade Crown, and a Jade Pendant at his waist. He sat solemnly in the seat of honor at the very center of the high platform.

The Ten Great Martial Vein Masters sat to his left and right. Before each of them was a redwood table laden with tea and fruit.

Further to the sides sat the Elders from Medicine Valley and the Five Elements Sect.

They each sat in their designated seats, their expressions stern, occasionally murmuring a few words to one another.

The sub-Pill Force tournament was the first event to be held.

It was divided into two parts: the individual tournament and the Sect tournament.

The Jianghu Cultivators were mostly focused on the individual tournament; after all, it offered a chance to win the Condensing Strength Pill.

But the Elders of the Three Sects were all focused on the Sect tournament.

It was a measure of the overall strength of each of the Three Sects’ disciples below the Pill Force realm.

The Guiyuan Sect took it particularly seriously.

After all, the Guiyuan Sect had placed last every single time, which was a considerable loss of face.

This was especially true this year, as the Guiyuan Sect was the host.

Meng Shouzhen, seated in the seat of honor, swept his gaze over the area where the Guiyuan Sect disciples were gathered.

’Since Zhang Su can’t compete, I can only hope the other Guiyuan Sect disciples perform well.’

’If we come in last again this year, I’ll be disgraced as the Sect Leader.’

The individual sub-Pill Force tournament was held first.

There was only one grand arena, but there were many smaller rings.

Thus, many matches between Martial Artists were held simultaneously.

A dozen or so smaller rings had been erected in the Martial Arts Arena, each one surrounded by a crowd of spectators.

The grand arena stood in the center. It was the most important fighting stage, usually reserved for the strongest competitors.

However, during the early stages of the individual tournament, the number of contestants was too high, so most of the matches took place on the smaller rings.

Xie Guanchao, Zhou Peng, and Mo Tingzhu all prepared to enter the rings.

Bai Xuan stood at the edge of the stands, her eyes fixed tightly on Mo Tingzhu’s retreating back.

She looked slightly nervous.

"You can do this, Master..."

Bai Xuan’s voice trembled, but she still shouted it loud and clear.

Her voice wasn’t particularly loud amid the din of the Martial Arts Arena, but Mo Tingzhu heard her.

He turned back, gave Bai Xuan a smile, and nodded.

Then, he stepped resolutely onto the ring.

Mo Tingzhu wore a grayish-white robe, his long saber hanging at his waist.

Its scabbard was black, engraved with a simple cloud pattern.

As he walked onto the ring, his steps were steady and his gaze was calm.

All three of their opponents were Huajin Martial Artists.

However, Xie Guanchao had the best luck; he was matched against a Huajin Martial Artist from the Jianghu.

The Jianghu Cultivator looked to be in his early thirties. He was lean, dressed in a gray linen tunic, and carried a Foil.

The blade was long and narrow, glinting coldly in the sunlight.

Xie Guanchao smiled and drew the long saber from his waist.

The blade was broad and thick, its edge sharp.

He held the saber horizontally before him and offered his opponent a cupped-fist salute.

The opponent returned the salute.

They locked eyes, neither one speaking.

Mo Tingzhu was rather unlucky; he had drawn a Huajin Martial Artist from the Five Elements Sect.

The disciple from the Five Elements Sect wore black martial arts attire. He was powerfully built, with a square jaw, thick eyebrows, and large eyes.

His hands were a size larger than an ordinary man’s, and he gripped a Thick-Backed Saber.

The blade was as wide as a man’s palm, with a thick spine. It looked incredibly heavy.

Mo Tingzhu’s gaze swept over his opponent, and his heart sank a little.

The Huajin disciples of the Five Elements Sect were generally a cut above the Jianghu Cultivators in terms of strength.

His luck was bad; he had drawn a tough opponent in the very first round.

Zhou Peng’s opponent, meanwhile, was a Martial Artist from Medicine Valley.

The Medicine Valley disciple wore a moon-white Medicine Cauldron Robe. A Small Medicine Bag, filled with Elixirs, hung at his waist.

His weapon was a longsword with a slender blade and a hilt inlaid with a green gemstone.

Zhou Peng glanced at his opponent, the corners of his mouth turning up in a slight smile.

Medicine Valley disciples were skilled in Alchemy. While their Martial Arts were by no means weak, they still fell short when compared to disciples from the Three Sects who specialized in cultivating Martial Techniques.

Naturally, Bai Xuan’s attention was fixed on Mo Tingzhu.