Chapter 135 - 103: Sect Leader’s Summons, Celestial Pride Trial

This was indeed great news.

Whether he could succeed in the trial or not, it was still an opportunity.

A Celestial Pride...

It was a status countless disciples dreamed of achieving.

Zhang Su had originally thought he would have to improve one steady step at a time.

He was confident that his eventual achievements would surpass even those of a Celestial Pride.

But he never expected to get a chance to become a Celestial Pride himself.

Now that he had such a chance, Zhang Su was determined to seize it.

He couldn’t just let it slip away.

"You can head back today. However, you must be careful from now on. Try to stay within the Sect. Dugu Jian was close to Shi Buyi, a Celestial Pride of the Five Elements Sect. Now that you’ve killed Dugu Jian, you’ll have to watch out for Shi Buyi."

"Would Shi Buyi dare to enter our Guiyuan Sect’s territory?"

Wang Dakui said grimly, "Shi Buyi... is very strong! If he were to kill you, what would it matter if an Innate Grandmaster hunted him down afterward? You’d already be dead. Besides, there’s no guarantee that even an Innate Grandmaster could successfully kill Shi Buyi."

Zhang Su nodded.

"I understand."

He bowed to Wang Dakui once more.

Afterward, Zhang Su packed his things and prepared to return to the Sect.

On the way back, many of the disciples traveled together in small groups.

The trip to Hengshan County had matured many of the disciples.

Take Yu Jingjing, for example.

Although she hadn’t yet fully grasped the transformations of Power, she had gained a great deal. It seemed to be only a matter of time before she did.

Then there was Bai Jinghong.

He had started out incredibly arrogant.

By the end, he was teaming up with others.

Although he was still a bit haughty, he had certainly shown some flair, managing to reclaim a bit of face for Cyan Wood Peak.

Other Huajin Martial Artists, such as Zhou Peng and Xie Guanchao, had also earned a large number of merit points.

Once they returned to the Sect, they could use these merit points to exchange for precious resources.

This would increase their chances of successfully reaching the Embracing Pill realm in the future.

Of course, the one who had gained the most was Zhang Su.

He had not only earned tens of thousands of merit points, but had also won the approval of Elder Tang Tianwen, who secured for him the precious opportunity of the Celestial Pride Trial.

Riding Little Red Horse, Zhang Su spent the better part of the day traveling and managed to return to the Mountain Gate before sunset.

After returning to the Mountain Gate, the first thing Zhang Su did was visit his master.

He needed to ask him about the Celestial Pride Trial in detail.

Soon, Zhang Su arrived at the Instructor Pavilion.

"I’ve come to see you, Master."

Zhang Su bowed to Zhao Qianfeng.

"Hm? You’re back again?"

Zhao Qianfeng’s eyes snapped open.

He remembered that it hadn’t been long since Zhang Su left the Fire Melting Cave for Hengshan County.

"Master, the dispute over the mine in Hengshan County is over. The Guiyuan Sect was victorious, so I hurried back to the Mountain Gate."

Zhang Su reported honestly.

"The mine dispute is over already? I thought it would be a stalemate for several more months. I didn’t expect it to end so quickly. Tell me, how did we win?"

Zhao Qianfeng was very curious.

Hengshan County was some distance from the Guiyuan Sect’s Mountain Gate, making communication inconvenient.

Furthermore, he wasn’t part of the Sect’s upper echelon, so there was a lot of information he wasn’t privy to.

Zhang Su thought for a moment before saying honestly, "The dispute ending so early... might have something to do with me..."

"Hm? You?"

"I was the one who killed Dugu Jian, the Huajin Martial Artist from the Five Elements Sect..."

Zhang Su then explained the details of his battle with Dugu Jian from start to finish.

"You’re saying this Dugu Jian had cultivated the Five Elements Reincarnation Sword Technique to Perfection? And more importantly, you relied on the Infinite Sword Scripture to kill him with a single strike?"

"Yes."

Zhao Qianfeng fell silent.

He carefully sized Zhang Su up from head to toe.

But his mind was reeling in shock.

He had spent a considerable amount of time with Zhang Su.

Zhao Qianfeng had thought he knew Zhang Su quite well.

But Zhang Su was like a hidden treasure trove, constantly yielding unexpected surprises.

Zhao Qianfeng knew the Five Elements Reincarnation Sword Technique all too well.

Although it wasn’t considered a Supreme Secret Transmission of the Five Elements Sect, it was still one of their most powerful swordsmanship techniques.

’With the Five Elements Reincarnation Sword Technique at Perfection, I can’t imagine anyone at the same cultivation level being able to kill Dugu Jian.’

Yet Zhang Su had done it.

Not only had Zhang Su done it, but his Cultivation was even lower than Dugu Jian’s.

’He’s only at the Inner Force stage...’

’The Infinite Sword Scripture... It seems I underestimated this Sword Scripture. It’s truly incredible. And yet, as incredible as this swordsmanship is, Zhang Su actually managed to master it...’

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhao Qianfeng’s mind.

’I originally thought the Infinite Sword Scripture was just an Innate Level swordsmanship. Strong, perhaps, but not outrageously so—especially since it was incomplete.’

’As it turns out, I was wrong.’

’Completely and utterly wrong!’

’The Infinite Sword Scripture is terrifyingly powerful.’

"So, you earned tens of thousands of merit points this time?"

"Yes. And not just merit points. Elder Wang said that Elder Tang Tianwen was very pleased with me and is willing to give me a chance at the Celestial Pride Trial. That’s why I wanted to ask you about it, Master."

"What? Tang Tianwen is willing to give you a chance at the Celestial Pride Trial?"

Zhang Su nodded.

Zhao Qianfeng, however, seemed incredibly excited.

The Celestial Pride Trial!

He knew all too well what that meant.

"The Celestial Pride Trial... When I was young, I also applied for the trial. Unfortunately, I didn’t succeed..."

Zhao Qianfeng said with a sigh.

’Not succeed? That was an understatement.’

’I failed the very first test of the trial.’

’There was never any chance of success at all.’

But the very fact that he had been granted a chance at the Celestial Pride Trial was proof enough of how outstanding Zhao Qianfeng had been in his youth.

"Zhang Su, you must seize this opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail, you have to give it your all! As long as you can pass the Celestial Pride Trial, titles like Five Vein Disciple or a place in the Inheritance Sequence... they’re all worthless in the face of a true Sect’s Celestial Pride!"

"However, it’s no use for me to tell you the contents of the trial. It’s different for every disciple who applies. But I can tell you about the specifics of my own trial, so you have something to go on."

And so, Zhao Qianfeng described to Zhang Su, in detail, the trial he had once undertaken.

Zhang Su listened intently.

"Alright, go and wait for news. The Sect Leader should be summoning you soon. You’ll find out the specifics of the Celestial Pride Trial then."

"Yes, Master. I will take my leave now."

Zhang Su nodded, then turned and left the Instructor Pavilion.

Returning to his residence, Zhang Su rested for a few days.

One day, Tang Tianwen himself came to Zhang Su’s courtyard.

"Zhang Su."

"Greetings, Elder Tang."

"Come. The Sect Leader is summoning you."

Zhang Su wasn’t particularly surprised.

He had been waiting for the Sect Leader’s summons for the past several days.

Now, the Sect Leader had finally summoned him.

And so, he followed behind Tang Tianwen, heading toward the Sect Grand Hall.