Chapter 214 - 124: Embracing Pill Defeats Gang Force, the Entire Arena in an Uproar

At this moment, the other Martial Artist who had drawn "Number One" also turned his gaze to Zhang Su.

The man was around thirty years old, with a slender build. He wore a long gray cloth robe, and a longsword hung from his waist.

The scabbard was dark brown and bore no ornamentation, only a few fine scratches, as if it had seen many battles.

He was Chu Hanjiang.

Their eyes met.

"The first match: Zhang Su of the Guiyuan Sect versus the Jianghu Cultivator, Chu Hanjiang!"

The Steward’s voice was loud and clear, echoing over the Martial Arts Arena.

As his voice fell, the other six Martial Artists below the ring turned and stepped off the stage.

On the vast fighting stage, only Zhang Su and Chu Hanjiang remained.

"Is Zhang Su’s luck insane? To think he drew Chu Hanjiang... He’s the only Jianghu Martial Artist left in the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes."

In the stands, a Five Elements Sect disciple said, shaking his head.

He was dressed in black martial attire, his arms crossed as he leaned against the railing, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Even though Chu Hanjiang is a Jianghu Martial Artist, his Cultivation has reached the Peak of Gang Force, the Unity of Inner and Outer. He has no weaknesses. Zhang Su’s Fast Sword will be useless."

A nearby Medicine Valley disciple chimed in.

He wore a moon-white Medicine Cauldron Robe and had a delicate, handsome face.

"Actually, isn’t Chu Hanjiang just as lucky to have drawn Zhang Su? If he’d drawn any other Gang Force Martial Artist, the outcome would be hard to predict. But Zhang Su is only at the Embracing Pill stage and specializes in the Fast Sword. He’s perfectly countered by a Peak Gang Force Martial Artist who has achieved Unity of Inner and Outer. Chu Hanjiang will most likely win this one."

A Jianghu Cultivator stroked his beard and said slowly.

He wore a short, dark gray robe and carried a Thick-Backed Saber on his back, his face weathered by the elements.

"No matter how good Zhang Su’s luck has been, it’s run out now that he’s in the top eight..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

In the previous five rounds, Zhang Su had been "carried" to the top eight by the Guiyuan Sect. All of his opponents were only Embracing Pill Martial Artists, so he’d had it easy, to say the least.

This was obvious to anyone paying attention. The disciples from the Five Elements Sect and Medicine Valley were displeased, and while the Jianghu Cultivators said nothing, they too felt it was unfair.

And now, although the opponent Zhang Su had drawn was one of the weaker of the seven remaining Gang Force Martial Artists,

no matter how weak, he was still a Peak Gang Force Martial Artist who had achieved the Unity of Inner and Outer.

Peak of Gang Force. Unity of Inner and Outer.

Their Gang Force covered every inch of their skin and even permeated their internal organs.

Blades could not cut them, and arrows could not pierce them.

Their entire body was without weakness.

And Zhang Su’s specialty was the Fast Sword.

The Fast Sword relied on speed.

But when an opponent’s body was enveloped in a layer of Gang Force that blades could hardly scratch, the advantage of the Fast Sword was greatly diminished.

Gang Force was the perfect counter to Zhang Su’s Fast Sword.

"Senior Sister Ye, Zhang Su’s luck has run out. I wonder how many moves it will take Chu Hanjiang to defeat him?"

In the Medicine Valley’s section of the stands, a disciple spoke softly.

Ye Ling sat in the very front row of the Medicine Valley stands, her posture impeccable and her expression cool and detached.

Her gaze was fixed on the ring, unwavering.

"I’m not sure. Logically, a Peak Gang Force Martial Artist who has achieved the Unity of Inner and Outer should defeat an Embracing Pill Martial Artist with ease. But Zhang Su... he’s no ordinary one. Though his Fast Sword can’t break through Gang Force, who can guarantee that the Fast Sword is all he has?"

Ye Ling’s voice was soft, laced with a hint of caution.

She didn’t underestimate Zhang Su in the slightest.

In fact, she had always held him in high regard.

From defeating an Embracing Pill Martial Artist while at the Huajin stage, to now reaching the Embracing Pill stage at seventeen, every step Zhang Su took defied common understanding.

’How could a person like that only have a single technique like the Fast Sword?’

"This..."

Hearing Ye Ling’s words, the other Medicine Valley disciples grew uncertain.

They exchanged glances, a flicker of unease in their eyes.

’Could it be? Does Zhang Su have some hidden trump card that could defeat a Peak Gang Force Martial Artist with Unity of Inner and Outer?’

Zhou Dingshan of the Five Elements Sect also wore a solemn expression.

He sat in the front row of the Five Elements Sect’s stands, hands on his knees, his back ramrod straight.

His gaze was locked onto Zhang Su in the ring, his eyes holding no disdain, only solemn focus.

He watched even more intently than Ye Ling.

After all, he knew he couldn’t dodge Zhang Su’s Fast Sword; he would have to block it head-on. He was confident in his Rock Gang Force.

The Defense Power of his Rock Gang Force was astonishing, ranking among the top two of all Gang Force disciples in the Five Elements Sect.

But since Chu Hanjiang was facing Zhang Su first, he would watch closely. ’Let’s see what method Zhang Su uses to deal with Chu Hanjiang.’

’If Chu Hanjiang loses, I’ll get a clear look at Zhang Su’s techniques and know what I’m up against.’

This battle was worthy of his full attention.

Both Ye Ling and Zhou Dingshan took Zhang Su very seriously.

They were the most elite Gang Force disciples of the Three Sects. Their insight and experience far surpassed that of ordinary people, so unlike the Ordinary Disciples, they wouldn’t underestimate Zhang Su just because he was at the Embracing Pill stage.

However, the Danjin Martial Artists and those of lower cultivation believed that Zhang Su had relied on pure luck and being carried by the Guiyuan Sect to make it to the top eight of the Heroes Gathering.

Their Cultivation was limited, as was their perspective, so they were unable to see the deeper reality of the situation.

"Sect Leader, have we been... a bit too protective? I hope this doesn’t backfire on us."

Elder Tang Tianwen of the Guiyuan Sect asked softly, leaning toward Sect Leader Meng Shouzhen.

Tang Tianwen wore a long, dark cyan robe. His hair was streaked with gray and his face was gaunt, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.

There was a trace of worry in his tone.

Previously, their plan had been for Zhang Su to defeat a Gang Force Martial Artist at the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes, which would fulfill the requirements for the second test of the Celestial Pride Trial.

But they had never imagined that so many Danjin Martial Artists would participate in the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes.