Unrestricted Dao Lord

Zhang Su entered the Cultivation Room.

He turned to the first Martial Technique.

This was a Superior Martial Technique, a Swordsmanship of the Inner Strength Level, called "Bosha Swordsmanship."

Bosha Swordsmanship was somewhat similar to the Nine Shadows Sword Technique.

When executed, it filled the air with sword shadows, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the illusory.

However, the difference was that the sword shadows from Bosha Swordsmanship were almost all illusions.

Only one sword shadow was real.

Yet this one real shadow was silent and traceless; a single strike was fatal.

It was somewhat like a combination of the Light and Shadow Killing Sword and the Nine Shadows Sword Technique.

Zhang Su carefully compared the swordsmanship of the Qi Blood Realm with that of the Inner Strength Level.

In truth, they had much in common.

After all, Inner Strength Level Swordsmanship wasn’t created from nothing; it was all a gradual progression.

The biggest difference was that with the explosive power of Inner Strength, the might of Inner Strength Level Swordsmanship was far greater.

It could be several times stronger, perhaps even more than ten times!

’Bosha Swordsmanship, Compatibility as high as 97%...’

A strange glint flashed through Zhang Su’s eyes.

If he studied this Bosha Swordsmanship carefully, he’d find it actually had too many similarities with the Nine Shadows Sword Technique and the Light and Shadow Killing Sword. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they all came from the same lineage.

This Swordsmanship’s Compatibility with Zhang Su was also as high as 97%, the highest Compatibility of any Cultivation Technique he had encountered so far.

It would be unrealistic to claim that the Light and Shadow Killing Sword and the Nine Shadows Sword Technique had no influence on this.

This led Zhang Su to a few speculations.

’The Cultivation Techniques I previously cultivated to Perfection must have, to some extent, influenced other Martial Arts of the same type.’

Of course, this would require more Cultivation Techniques to confirm.

Zhang Su began to practice Bosha Swordsmanship.

Once, twice, three times...

The high Compatibility of 97% brought with it unparalleled efficiency.

After just one hour, Zhang Su stopped.

"Bosha Swordsmanship: Compatibility 97% (Great Success)"

Clearly, Bosha Swordsmanship posed no difficulty for Zhang Su.

He had reached Great Success so quickly.

It would probably reach Perfection on its own in just a few days.

Then came the second, third, and fourth techniques...

「In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.」

Zhang Su stopped.

He had basically finished cultivating all ten Martial Techniques.

And the results were excellent.

Two of the Martial Techniques reached Great Success, while the rest were at Minor Achievement.

One had to remember, this was only after a single day.

Although his Compatibility was high, Zhang Su also knew that reaching Perfection still required some kind of catalyst.

Staying in the Cultivation Room would not provide such a catalyst.

So, Zhang Su got up, left the Cultivation Room, and returned all ten Secret Manuals for the Martial Techniques to Elder Zhao of the Instructor Pavilion.

"Zhang Su."

"This disciple is present."

Elder Zhao had suddenly called out to stop Zhang Su.

"Take this Jade Pendant and go to Bamboo Sword Peak. Old Ghost Qu will take you as his disciple."

Zhang Su was slightly stunned. He reached out his hand and took the Jade Pendant.

’Bamboo Sword Peak?’

He had never been there, or even heard of it.

Elder Zhao thought Zhang Su was worried.

So, he added an explanation, "Don’t worry. This old man has already mentioned you to Old Ghost Qu, and he wants to meet you in person. With the Supreme Foundation you forged through ’Second Limit Breaking’, just act normally. It won’t be a problem."

Only then did Zhang Su understand that Elder Zhao already knew about his "Second Limit Breaking."

He had even "recommended" him to Bamboo Sword Peak.

In truth, he and this "Elder Zhao" had only met a handful of times.

They had only exchanged a few words.

They were hardly familiar with each other.

He never expected Elder Zhao to give him such a great gift.

Zhang Su took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Elder Zhao. "Thank you, Elder Zhao."

"Alright, go prepare and then head to Bamboo Sword Peak."

"Yes, this disciple understands."

Zhang Su immediately turned and left the Instructor Pavilion.

Although Zhang Su didn’t know "Elder Qu," he knew that an Elder recommended by Elder Zhao for tutelage was most likely of the Postnatal Realm. Therefore, he didn’t dare to be negligent.

Zhang Su planned to first go back to bathe, burn incense, and change his clothes before heading to Bamboo Sword Peak.

Just as Zhang Su reached the entrance of courtyard "266"...

...he saw Tang Ying from courtyard "267." She seemed to be on her way out, dressed in tight-fitting martial attire that accentuated her stunning, curvaceous figure.

And next to Tang Ying was a tall, well-built young man.

The young man seemed to be waiting to leave with Tang Ying.

He also saw Zhang Su and asked with some hesitation, "This is..."

Tang Ying said flatly, "A neighbor. Dharma Protector Disciple Zhang Su."

When the young man heard he was just a "Dharma Protector Disciple," he immediately straightened his posture, his body overflowing with confidence.

"Junior Sister Tang Ying, with me accompanying you down the mountain this time, the mission will definitely be completed smoothly..."

"Then I’ll be troubling Senior Brother Chen..."

Tang Ying looked at "Senior Brother Chen," a brilliant smile on her face.

The two then left together.

From beginning to end, Tang Ying hadn’t given Zhang Su a second glance.

"Junior Brother Zhang, don’t pay any mind to Tang Ying. She’s always fawning on the powerful and trampling on the weak. This time, she’s tricked ’Chen Luo’ into going down the mountain with her for a mission. That fool Chen Luo probably has no idea what he’s getting into..."

Hu Buyu, from the adjacent courtyard "265," had appeared at his doorway at some unknown time.

He clearly knew Tang Ying well.

"Junior Brother Zhang, I arrived in the Inner Sect a few years before you. If there’s anything you don’t understand about the Inner Sect, feel free to ask me."

Hu Buyu had the appearance of a "warm-hearted" person.

’But in his heart, Zhang Su knew that Hu Buyu was the same type of person as Tang Ying.’

’The reason Hu Buyu is acting so ’enthusiastic’ now is most likely because he’s heard about my status.’

’After all, I was once the ’Outer Sect First.’ Even as a Dharma Protector Disciple now, I’m not someone an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple can compare to.’

"In that case, thank you, Senior Brother Hu. I happen to have a question for you."

"What is it, Junior Brother Zhang? Feel free to ask."

Hu Buyu hadn’t expected Zhang Su to actually have a question for him.

But he maintained a calm expression, still appearing very enthusiastic.

"Senior Brother Hu, may I ask if you know of Bamboo Sword Peak?" Zhang Su asked.

"Bamboo Sword Peak? Of course, I know it! That’s one of the top five Martial Veins in our Guiyuan Sect. The master of Bamboo Sword Peak is Elder Qu, a Postnatal Realm cultivator whose strength is said to be unfathomable."

"Any disciple who can enter the Bamboo Sword Peak lineage is at least a Two-star Disciple, and there are even some Three-Star Disciples among them. They are all geniuses among geniuses. Ordinary Inner Sect Disciples can’t even get close to Bamboo Sword Peak; they shouldn’t even think about it."

Hu Buyu’s tone was full of envy.

"I see..."

Although Zhang Su had already guessed that "Elder Qu" was likely a Postnatal Realm expert, he hadn’t expected "Bamboo Sword Peak" to be so powerful.

’Bamboo Sword Peak is ranked in the top five of the entire Guiyuan Sect.’

’It’s said that Wei Yunzhou also became the disciple of a Postnatal Realm Elder.’

’I wonder how Wei Yunzhou’s master compares to Elder Qu, the master of Bamboo Sword Peak?’

It seemed "Elder Zhao" really did think highly of Zhang Su.

Recommending Zhang Su to "Bamboo Sword Peak" was enough to show how much importance Elder Zhao placed on him.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you’re asking about Bamboo Sword Peak... you’re not thinking of becoming a disciple there, are you?"

Hu Buyu shook his head and said with a smile, "If Junior Brother Zhang really has the idea of becoming a disciple at Bamboo Sword Peak, then you should get rid of that thought as soon as possible. I’ve never heard of Bamboo Sword Peak accepting Dharma Protector Disciples."

"The disciples of the Bamboo Sword Peak lineage are basically all Inheritor Disciples with enormous potential..."

Hu Buyu’s meaning was clear. ’Zhang Su is a Dharma Protector Disciple. He wants to enter Bamboo Sword Peak?’

’That’s just wishful thinking. No chance!’

Zhang Su, however, gave a noncommittal response, saying in a calm tone, "Thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother Hu. As for whether or not to go to Bamboo Sword Peak, I’ll think it over."

"Hmm? You’ll think it over? You say that as if you can actually get into Bamboo Sword Peak..."

Hu Buyu’s eyes widened, and he secretly shook his head.

But Zhang Su paid him no more mind, pushed open his gate, and walked into his courtyard.