Chapter 209 - 122: Zhang Su Takes the Stage, Embracing Pill Cultivation, Everyone is Stunned

"Yeah, running into Senior Brother Han was just bad luck... He’s gotten even stronger recently."

Zhou Peng laughed and said, "I have no complaints about my loss. Senior Brother Han is definitely stronger! Besides, I feel like he’s different now. He probably wasn’t even using his full strength in our fight."

Xie Guanchao was taken aback for a moment. "Senior Brother Han wasn’t using his full strength?"

’In my opinion, Han Guiyi is very strong, but I thought he’d still need a bit of luck to make it into the top three.’

But now Zhou Peng was saying Han Guiyi hadn’t used his full strength.

’Just how strong was Han Guiyi, then?’

"Han Guiyi... has probably cultivated Divine Intent!"

Suddenly, Zhang Su spoke up.

His voice wasn’t loud, but Zhou Peng, Xie Guanchao, and Mo Tingzhu heard him clearly.

"Hmm?"

"Junior Brother Zhang, are you saying Senior Brother Han has cultivated Divine Intent?"

Both Zhou Peng and Xie Guanchao’s hearts jolted.

’Divine Intent... how could they not know of it?’

Back then, Shen Mo had spent ten years sharpening a single sword, his technique bordering on the sublime, and had cultivated Divine Intent.

Later, Zhang Su also had an epiphany and developed Divine Intent.

’And now, Han Guiyi had actually cultivated Divine Intent too?’

’Was Divine Intent really that easy to develop?’

Others couldn’t tell, but Zhang Su, who had developed more than one type of Divine Intent himself, could naturally see it.

Having cultivated Divine Intent, Han Guiyi’s current strength was likely comparable to Dugu Jian’s back then.

He was guaranteed to be number one in the Huajin Stage!

Sure enough, Han Guiyi went on to fight two more matches, dominantly claiming first place!

Moreover, in his final battle, Han Guiyi did indeed channel his Divine Intent into his Saber Technique, delivering a shocking blow that defeated a Peak of Huajin Stage Martial Artist from Medicine Valley.

That strike was as fast as lightning.

The blade cut through the air, letting out a sharp whistle.

His opponent didn’t even have time to react before the blade was pressed against his chest.

Instantly, the crowd was stunned!

After all, that was Divine Intent!

In the stands, everyone from the Three Sects’ Disciples to the Jianghu Cultivators stared with wide eyes.

"Hahaha, Han Guiyi, good, well done! I thought that without Zhang Su, our Guiyuan Sect would place last in the inter-Sect tournament for those below the Pill Force Realm. Who would have thought Han Guiyi would actually cultivate Divine Intent?"

Guiyuan Sect’s Leader, Meng Shouzhen, burst into laughter.

He was quite satisfied with Han Guiyi.

As expected, there was no suspense in the following matches of the inter-Sect tournament for those below the Pill Force Realm.

Under Han Guiyi’s lead, the Guiyuan Sect took first place!

In the tournament for those below the Pill Force Realm, both in the individual and Sect competitions, Han Guiyi stole the show, becoming the center of everyone’s attention.

The Jianghu Martial Artists, in particular, were utterly dumbfounded.

Many of them didn’t even know what Divine Intent was.

’Who could have imagined that a Huajin-level Saber Technique could be so terrifyingly powerful?’

Completely and utterly impressed!

They were completely impressed by Han Guiyi.

And even more impressed by the Guiyuan Sect.

The number one in Huajin!

That title now belonged to Han Guiyi!

Everyone was singing Han Guiyi’s praises.

But Xie Guanchao shook his head and said, "Heh, these people are just frogs in a well. Senior Brother Han is strong, sure, but Junior Brother Zhang comprehended Divine Intent back when he was in the Outer Force realm. If Junior Brother Zhang had signed up, he would have been the undisputed number one in Huajin!"

Zhou Peng nodded in agreement.

It was the truth.

Those who had truly witnessed Zhang Su’s battle against Dugu Jian knew just how terrifying he was.

Zhang Su had comprehended Divine Intent—more than one type, in fact—back in the Outer Force realm.

If he had participated in the tournament for those below Pill Force, Han Guiyi wouldn’t have stood a chance.

But Zhang Su hadn’t signed up.

"Junior Brother Zhang, I just don’t get it. Why didn’t you sign up to compete? Even if you don’t need the Condensing Strength Pill, you could’ve sold it..."

Xie Guanchao came from a wealthy family.

If Zhang Su had won the Condensing Strength Pill, he would have genuinely wanted to buy it.

Zhou Peng also found it to be a pity.

A single Condensing Strength Pill could fetch an exorbitant price on the open market.

It was a real shame that Zhang Su didn’t go for it.

"The Three Sects Gathering of Heroes should be next, right?"

Mo Tingzhu suddenly spoke.

He had been silent until now, not participating in the discussion.

But now, his gaze had turned to the large arena in the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

"That’s right, the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes! This is the main event of the entire summit. Every Gathering of Heroes produces some astonishingly talented individuals. In fact, many of the Three Sects’ Celestial Prides first made their stunning debut at the Heroes Gathering!"

Xie Guanchao also grew excited.

His eyes lit up, and an expectant look spread across his face.

The Three Sects Gathering of Heroes represented the pinnacle of strength among the Three Sects for those below the Postnatal Realm.

Even some Peak Gang Force Martial Artists from the Jianghu were waiting to make a brilliant showing at the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes!

Although Jianghu Martial Artists usually didn’t perform very well at the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes.

But there were exceptions.

There had been some Jianghu Martial Artists in the past who made a stunning debut at the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes, their names echoing through the Jianghu. They received rewards, which allowed them to cultivate Inner Strength and advance to the Postnatal Realm!

It was a meteoric rise!

"I hear the Five Elements Sect has a disciple named Zhou Dingshan who is a top contender. He might even take first place in the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes!"

"Medicine Valley also has Ye Ling, who is incredibly strong and considered the next Sect’s Celestial Pride of Medicine Valley."

"Our Guiyuan Sect has Peak Gang Force Martial Artists too..."

Xie Guanchao, Zhou Peng, and Mo Tingzhu were all focused on the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes.

It wasn’t just Zhou Peng and his group; nearly everyone in the Martial Arts Arena was paying close attention.

This included the Sect Leaders and Postnatal Realm Elders from every sect.

After all, a new Celestial Pride could very well emerge from this Three Sects Gathering of Heroes, so the Three Sects naturally had to watch closely.

In the stands, the Elders from Medicine Valley and the Five Elements Sect also wore serious expressions.

Their gazes swept over their own Gang Force disciples, then glanced at the disciples from the other two sects, silently assessing everyone’s strength.

"For the first match of the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes: Zhang Su of the Guiyuan Sect versus the Jianghu Cultivator, Zhou Yue!"

Finally, the first match of the Three Sects Gathering of Heroes began.

However, the name of the contestant in this first match instantly silenced the entire Martial Arts Arena.

The Steward in charge of announcing the matches stood on the high platform, his powerful voice echoing across the whole Martial Arts Arena.

When the two words "Zhang Su" left his lips, the stands fell silent for a moment before erupting into a clamor of discussion.

Xie Guanchao and Zhou Peng were dumbstruck.

Mo Tingzhu and Bai Xuan both thought they must have misheard.

Their gazes instantly fell upon Zhang Su.

Zhang Su stood up, looked at Zhou Peng, Xie Guanchao, and the others, and smiled faintly. "I said before that I didn’t sign up for the tournament below the Pill Force Realm. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t."

"After all, I’ve already achieved Embracing Pill and advanced to the Pill Force Realm!"

With that, Zhang Su leaped straight onto the fighting stage.

His Body Technique was graceful. With a light tap of his toes on the edge of the stage, he landed steadily in the center.

His robes fluttered slightly in the wind, and the longsword at his waist swayed gently.

In the stands, countless pairs of eyes were fixed on him.

"Em... Embracing Pill?"

Xie Guanchao stared at Zhang Su on the stage, a storm of shock raging in his heart.

Zhou Peng and Mo Tingzhu were also stunned, finding it hard to believe.

But the truth was right before their eyes.

Standing on the stage, Zhang Su emanated an aura of flawless Perfection.

That was an aura only an Embracing Pill Martial Artist could possess.

Although they were only at the Huajin stage, they were not unfamiliar with the aura of the Embracing Pill Realm.

The Guiyuan Sect had many Embracing Pill Martial Artists. They had seen them and felt their auras before.

And at this moment, the aura coming from Zhang Su was identical to that of those Embracing Pill Martial Artists.

Zhang Su... had probably, truly achieved Embracing Pill!