Unrestricted Dao Lord

Zhang Su, Chu Dachuan, and the others left the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

Chu Dachuan and the other two were very excited.

But when they thought about how Zhang Su was heading to the Inner Sect while they were still stuck in the Outer Sect, they couldn’t help but feel a little dejected.

"Senior Brother, we can’t go to the Inner Sect with you... If you have any orders for us in the future, please don’t hesitate to give them."

"That’s right. We’ll be in the Outer Sect, ready for your command at any time, Senior Brother."

The three of them quickly pledged their loyalty.

Zhang Su nodded.

’These three are competent enough, but as for their loyalty... it’s not even worth mentioning.’

Still, they had been diligent and dedicated when working for him in the Outer Sect.

So, Zhang Su once again took out some Blood Replenishing Pills and distributed them among the three.

"Take these Blood Replenishing Pills. You may go."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

The three of them bowed respectfully to Zhang Su before finally taking the Blood Replenishing Pills and departing.

As an Inner Sect Disciple, Zhang Su would naturally have to live in the Inner Sect from now on.

With that, Zhang Su headed toward the Inner Sect.

Zhang Su had just stepped into the Inner Sect.

Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure up ahead.

"Senior Brother Lu, what are you doing here?"

The figure was none other than Lu Tianqing.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you aren’t familiar with the Inner Sect, so I’ll take you to your residence," Lu Tianqing said.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother Lu."

The two then began walking side by side.

Both were men of few words, so the journey was a quiet one.

Compared to the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect’s most distinct feature was its significantly smaller population.

And because of this, every Inner Sect Disciple was allocated their own private courtyard.

"Junior Brother Zhang, we’re here."

Lu Tianqing stopped outside a courtyard.

Zhang Su glanced over.

Outside the courtyard was a plaque with the number "266".

The adjacent courtyards were numbered "265" and "267".

Zhang Su had already received the key from the Inner Sect Elder.

He immediately used it to open the gate to courtyard number "266".

"Senior Brother Lu, please come in. I have some questions I’d like to ask you."

Zhang Su stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter.

"Alright."

Lu Tianqing didn’t refuse and walked straight into the courtyard.

The courtyard seemed to have been recently cleaned. While not spotless, it didn’t feel dirty or messy either.

The two sat down in the living room, and Zhang Su immediately asked, "Senior Brother Lu, do you know about One-star Disciples?"

"I do."

A complicated look flashed through Lu Tianqing’s eyes. "Actually, I was in the Inner Sect Grand Hall watching the fight."

"Then please, Senior Brother Lu, tell me the details. What exactly is a ’One-star Disciple’?"

"Alright, I’ll explain everything."

As Lu Tianqing explained, Zhang Su gradually came to understand the situation in the Inner Sect.

It turned out that Inner Sect Disciples were divided into two types.

The first type were those who ascended to the Inner Sect before the age of sixteen. These disciples were classified into the "Inheritance Sequence."

The other type were Overage Disciples like Zhang Su, who passed the Combat Power Assessment and were classified into the "Guardian Sequence."

The Inheritance Sequence valued a disciple’s potential.

The higher their potential, the higher their rating.

The ratings were divided into five levels.

Ordinary Disciple, One-star Disciple, Two-star Disciple, Three-Star Disciple, and Sect’s Celestial Pride.

The Guardian Sequence valued a disciple’s combat power.

The stronger their combat power, the higher their rating.

"So, disciples of the Inheritance Sequence just focus on their Cultivation, with the prospect of one day becoming Elders with Real Power, or even inheriting the position of Sect Leader! Meanwhile, disciples of the Guardian Sequence are essentially the Sect’s ’enforcers.’ When the Sect needs to expand its territory or fight for resources, it’s the Guardian Sequence disciples who are sent out to do the dirty work..."

Zhang Su understood the fundamental difference between the two types of disciples at a glance.

"You could see it that way..." Lu Tianqing fell silent.

It was the truth.

This was why he had rushed to cultivate Inner Strength and ascend to the Inner Sect before he turned sixteen.

He didn’t want to become a Dharma Protector Disciple.

The core of the Sect was clearly the disciples of the Inheritance Sequence.

Zhang Su understood.

Lu Tianqing was an Inheritance Sequence disciple.

Wei Yunzhou must be an Inheritance Sequence disciple as well.

"Senior Brother Lu, forgive my bluntness, but what is your current rating? And what about Wei Yunzhou? What star-level disciple is he?" Zhang Su asked.

"I was just rated as a ’Two-star Disciple’, while Wei Yunzhou... he was rated as a ’Three-Star Disciple’. That’s why he was accepted as a disciple by a Postnatal Realm Elder."

"A Three-Star Disciple? Even Wei Yunzhou isn’t a Sect’s Celestial Pride?"

Zhang Su was surprised.

Not because the rank was too high, but... because it was too low.

In Zhang Su’s opinion, for someone like Wei Yunzhou to be taken in by a Postnatal Realm Elder, he should have been a "Sect’s Celestial Pride" at the very least.

Yet Wei Yunzhou wasn’t a "Sect’s Celestial Pride," but only a "Three-Star Disciple."

Lu Tianqing gave a wry smile and said, "A Three-Star Disciple is basically the highest rating an Inner Sect Disciple can achieve... As for ’Sect’s Celestial Pride,’ I’ve heard there’s a special set of criteria, and it requires the joint approval of the Sect Leader and numerous Elders."

"Also, the rank of ’Sect’s Celestial Pride’ almost exclusively appears among disciples of the Inheritance Sequence. As for Dharma Protector Disciples, in the entire history of the Guiyuan Sect, there has never been one who became a ’Sect’s Celestial Pride’..."

Zhang Su thought about it carefully and roughly understood.

’The Inheritance Sequence disciples are valued for their potential. The younger they are when they ascend to the Inner Sect, the greater their advantage.’

’If Lu Tianqing hadn’t wasted several years in the Outer Sect back then and had ascended earlier, he would probably be a Three-Star Disciple too.’

’Unfortunately, Lu Tianqing didn’t ascend to the Inner Sect until he was almost sixteen, so he naturally became a Two-star Disciple.’

’This alone was a testament to Lu Tianqing’s incredible talent.’

’To become a Two-star Disciple at nearly sixteen was extremely rare.’

"Junior Brother Zhang, the competition in the Inner Sect is incredibly fierce. Even a Three-Star Disciple’s rating will drop if their Cultivation speed slows down even a little. For Dharma Protector Disciples, if their combat power doesn’t consistently improve, their rating will drop as well."

"No one can just coast and get a free ride. Everyone must continuously improve just to maintain their rating..."

Zhang Su nodded.

’The competition in this Inner Sect is truly intense.’

’The fact that Wei Yunzhou could consistently maintain his ’Three-Star Disciple’ rating was enough to prove that his talent was far beyond that of other disciples.’

"Thank you for the detailed explanation of the Inner Sect, Senior Brother Lu."

Lu Tianqing was no friend or relative, so Zhang Su was genuinely grateful that he had explained things in such detail.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you don’t need to worry too much. Your talent is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Others don’t know that you underwent the Second Limit Breaking, condensed a Thousand Threads of Qi and Blood, and forged a Supreme Foundation."

"Even though you’re a Dharma Protector Disciple, your potential far exceeds that of many Inheritance Sequence disciples. Besides, the Guardian Sequence has also produced some world-shaking, famous figures!"

Lu Tianqing was still trying to console Zhang Su.

But Zhang Su was actually very calm inside.

’Guardian Sequence, Inheritance Sequence... ’

’He didn’t care about any of it!’

’No matter which type of disciple he was, he would reach the pinnacle of the Martial Dao!’

After he finished speaking, Lu Tianqing stood up to leave.

"I’ll see you out, Senior Brother Lu."

Zhang Su got up and walked Lu Tianqing to the gate.

Just as they reached the gate, Zhang Su noticed that the owners of the neighboring courtyards, "265" and "267," had just returned.

Both of them looked a little surprised to see Zhang Su and Lu Tianqing.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you don’t have to see me any further."

Zhang Su stopped.

Then, Lu Tianqing strode away.

"You must be new, Junior Brother?" the owner of courtyard "265," a tall and slender young man, asked curiously.

"Yes, I just ascended to the Inner Sect," Zhang Su replied.

"And what might your name be, Junior Brother?" the owner of courtyard "267" spoke up.

She was a young woman with a stunning figure. Her skin wasn’t fair, but a healthy, wheat-like tan that gave her a vibrant, energetic look.

"Zhang Su."

"So, you’re Junior Brother Zhang..."

The woman seemed to be pondering something, then smiled and said, "My name is Tang Ying."

The owner of courtyard "265" also introduced himself. "I’m Hu Buyu. We’re neighbors, so we should get to know each other better."

It was clear that both of them wanted to get on Zhang Su’s good side.

Just then, an Inner Sect Steward approached from a distance.

He was carrying several sets of clothing.

"Who is Zhang Su?" the Inner Sect Steward called out loudly.

"I am Zhang Su."

"These are your Inner Sect uniforms. There are four sets in total. Take good care of them. If they’re damaged or lost, you’ll need contribution points to replace them."

"Thank you, Steward."

Zhang Su accepted the Inner Sect Disciple uniforms.

When Tang Ying and Hu Buyu saw the uniforms the Inner Sect Steward handed to Zhang Su, they exchanged a glance, a flicker of disappointment in their eyes.

They had been in the Inner Sect for several years.

They could naturally recognize that this was the uniform of a "Dharma Protector Disciple."

Although the uniforms for Dharma Protector Disciples and Inheritor Disciples were similar, there were subtle differences they could spot at a glance.

They had originally thought Zhang Su was a genius with limitless potential.

Who would have thought he was just an Overage Dharma Protector Disciple?

Although Dharma Protector Disciples were still Inner Sect Disciples, they were a far cry from Inheritor Disciples.

"Uh... I have something to take care of. Goodbye."

Tang Ying turned and went back into her house.

"I also have things to do. We’ll talk later."

Hu Buyu did the same, clearly not wanting to say another word.

Zhang Su watched their retreating backs and seemed to understand something.

’These two didn’t even bother to pretend anymore. They weren’t even willing to keep up appearances.’

’This just goes to show that the status of Dharma Protector Disciples in the Inner Sect is probably very low.’

Still, they were just two Inner Sect Disciples, and Zhang Su didn’t care.

Having just entered the Inner Sect, his most important task was to choose a Martial Arts technique suitable for the Inner Strength Level.

So, Zhang Su changed into his Inner Sect Disciple uniform, left his courtyard, and headed straight for the Instructor Pavilion.