Chapter 245 - 131: Fusing Swordsmanship, Ten Thousand Swords Return to One

"The Jingyuan Sect’s Celestial Pride is extraordinary. Forget me; even Shi Buyi likely wouldn’t have the slightest bit of confidence. But I must go to this battle. This is the only chance for the Three Sects Alliance, and for the Sect."

Yu Hualong’s voice was calm, as if he were speaking of a very ordinary matter.

But Zhang Su knew this was anything but ordinary.

The Jingyuan Sect’s Celestial Pride was a figure even stronger than Shi Buyi.

Yu Hualong had once been defeated by Shi Buyi. Now, facing an opponent even stronger than him, what were the odds of victory?

"But this is a duel to the death. If you fail, you could die..."

Zhang Su’s voice grew somber.

A duel to the death.

Those words meant there was no turning back.

Win, and you come back alive.

Lose, and you might die.

"Die?"

Yu Hualong smiled.

His smile was unperturbed.

"I am the Guiyuan Sect’s Celestial Pride. The Sect used all its resources to nurture me. Now that the Sect is in trouble, it’s only natural that I do everything in my power to help resolve it."

As Yu Hualong spoke, his gaze was perfectly calm.

Zhang Su stared at Yu Hualong.

He seemed to be trying to gauge whether Yu Hualong’s words were sincere.

His perception was keen; he could sense whether a person was speaking from the heart or just saying the words.

Zhang Su’s perception told him that every word Yu Hualong uttered came from the depths of his heart.

In that moment, he understood.

’Yu Hualong... he truly meant it.’

’This Celestial Pride of the Guiyuan Sect was completely different from the likes of Wei Yunzhou.’

’Yu Hualong genuinely saw the Sect’s fate as his own responsibility.’

"You seem surprised?"

Yu Hualong asked.

He had noticed the change in Zhang Su’s expression.

"I am a bit surprised. You’re not quite what I expected, Senior Brother Yu..."

Zhang Su admitted honestly.

Yu Hualong smiled.

After all his years in the Sect, he had seen far too much sordid scrambling for personal gain. How could he not know what was on Zhang Su’s mind?

"Junior Brother Zhang, the Martial Dao is like rowing a boat upstream: if you don’t advance, you fall back. Martial Artists must compete. Without competition, it’s impossible to distinguish yourself. Back when I was an Inner Sect Disciple, I had to compete too!"

Yu Hualong’s voice was frank, holding nothing back.

"But things are different once you become one of the Sect’s Celestial Prides. We benefit from the Sect’s resources, so naturally, we bear the weight of its great responsibilities. I was an orphan. Because of my outstanding talent, I entered the Outer Sect as a child and rose through the ranks to Inner Sect Disciple, then True Inheritor, and finally, Celestial Pride. For that reason, the Sect is my home!"

As he said this, Yu Hualong’s gaze grew distant.

He seemed to be recalling many memories.

Scene after scene flashed through his mind.

"I’m going to challenge the Jingyuan Sect’s Celestial Pride, and I don’t know if I’ll make it back. That’s why I wanted to meet you, Junior Brother Zhang. If I don’t return from this trip, you will have to shoulder the Sect’s heavy burden alone."

Yu Hualong’s gaze returned to Zhang Su.

His gaze was earnest.

Zhang Su could see Yu Hualong’s sincerity.

’The man truly had no ill intent.’

’He simply wanted to meet me.’

’Or perhaps, he meant to pass the torch.’

After all, if Yu Hualong didn’t return, Zhang Su would become the Guiyuan Sect’s sole Celestial Pride.

Just like Yu Hualong himself had been.

A single person, propping up the entire Guiyuan Sect.

"Well, now I have met you, Junior Brother Zhang. I didn’t expect you had already reached the Gang Force realm. You’re even more outstanding than I imagined. Having you in the Guiyuan Sect is a blessing..."

Yu Hualong was a Celestial Pride at the Peak of the Postnatal Stage.

He could naturally see Zhang Su’s Cultivation.

"Senior Brother Yu, I’ll be waiting for you to come back alive. After all, supporting a sect this large is too tiring for one person. Two is much better."

Zhang Su and Yu Hualong looked at each other and smiled.

Then, Zhang Su turned and left the cave residence.

The mountain wind blew through the whispering pines.

Zhang Su glanced back at Dragon Transformation Peak, then started down the mountain.

He headed straight for the Instructor Pavilion.

A chair was placed near the entrance, where Zhao Qianfeng was lounging.

He wore a gray robe, his eyes half-closed, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest as he hummed an unfamiliar tune.

He looked utterly content.

"Master."

Zhang Su walked up to Zhao Qianfeng and bowed respectfully.

"Why aren’t you on Pure Yang Peak where you belong? What..."

Zhao Qianfeng opened his eyes and remarked casually.

But he stopped abruptly, mid-sentence.

His eyes bulged as if he had seen something unbelievable.

"You... you’ve broken through to Gang Force?"

Zhao Qianfeng’s voice trembled.

He sized Zhang Su up from head to toe, scrutinizing him again and again.

"Yes. I was fortunate enough to reach Gang Force."

Zhang Su’s tone was calm.

Hearing this, Zhao Qianfeng was silent for a long moment.

’How long has it been?’

’Only three months had passed since the Three Sects conference.’

’In just three months, Zhang Su had broken through to Gang Force.’

’It was simply... unbelievable!’

Zhao Qianfeng’s expression was peculiar.

’For others, the higher their Cultivation, the more difficult it is to break through.’

’But Zhang Su seemed to be different.’

’The higher his Cultivation, the faster his breakthroughs seemed to come.’

’Zhang Su was becoming more and more of an enigma to him.’

Zhao Qianfeng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He had been an Elder of the Instructor Pavilion for so many years and had seen countless disciples, but he had never seen anyone like Zhang Su.

"Master, I wish to cultivate some powerful Martial Techniques, preferably Swordsmanship. Do you have any guidance for me?"

Zhang Su asked.

Zhao Qianfeng, on the other hand, was pleased.

Zhang Su was now a Celestial Pride of the Inner Sect, yet he remained humble and composed, still willing to ask for his guidance. That was a rare quality.

He had been an Elder of the Instructor Pavilion his entire life and had seen countless disciples.

Some disciples became insufferably arrogant after the slightest achievement.