Unrestricted Dao Lord

"Three Stars in One Day?"

Zhang Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes locked onto Zhang Su, sizing him up carefully.

It was clear he had put two and two together.

He knew that the most sensational event in the Inner Sect recently was none other than Zhang Su’s "Three Stars in One Day."

"It all adds up now. I heard that Junior Brother Zhang was rejected by Bamboo Sword Peak, but then you turned around and achieved Three Stars in One Day, making the entire Bamboo Sword Peak lose face."

"Heh heh, I also heard this spot in the Fire Melting Cave was originally a sure thing for Li Heng from Bamboo Sword Peak. But in the end, you snatched it right from under him. I bet that kid Li Heng hates your guts right now..."

Zhang Yuan was surprisingly well-informed.

This took Zhang Su by surprise.

’I knew the spots for the Fire Melting Cave were highly sought after. Even my Master’s intervention wasn’t enough; he had to bring in Elder Wang Dakui from Little Stone Peak. Only by working together did they manage to secure this spot for me.’

’I didn’t realize this spot was snatched from Li Heng’s grasp.’

’Or, to be more precise, from the Bamboo Sword Peak faction.’

Zhang Su firmly committed this favor from Wang Dakui and Little Stone Peak to memory.

’I’ll have to repay it when I get the chance.’

Pei Hongluan’s gaze swept over Zhang Su for a moment before she returned to her usual placid expression.

For her, it was simply a matter of curiosity. She had repeatedly heard tales of Zhang Su’s "Three Stars in One Day," and now she was seeing him in person.

That was all.

After withdrawing her gaze, Pei Hongluan immediately stepped through the entrance of the cave.

"Junior Brother Zhang, let’s go too."

Zhang Su nodded, and he and Zhang Yuan entered the Fire Melting Cave together.

VMMMM.

The moment they entered the Fire Melting Cave, the wave of heat intensified several times over.

It felt as if he were about to be roasted alive.

Zhang Su hurriedly circulated the Three Yang Divine Techniques within his body.

As the Three Supreme Divine Skills circulated, his body gradually felt less hot, and even began to feel a hint of coolness.

As for the other two, both Pei Hongluan and Zhang Yuan also quickly adapted to the environment of the Fire Melting Cave.

In a corner near the entrance of the Fire Melting Cave, an old man with a white beard and hair sat cross-legged on the ground.

He was dressed in the robes of an Elder.

The three of them—Zhang Su included—approached the old man and said respectfully, "Disciples greet you, Elder."

The old man opened his eyes, glanced at the three of them, and said flatly, "Show me your Identity Tokens."

And so, the three of them took out their Identity Tokens.

After the Elder had inspected them, he spoke directly. "You are each permitted to stay in the Fire Melting Cave for one month. When the time is up, your Identity Tokens will vibrate to wake you."

"Yes, Elder."

After a pause, Zhang Yuan asked, "Elder, where should we conduct our Cultivation?"

"You may choose any place where the temperature is suitable for you. Do not go to places where the temperature is too high; you won’t be able to withstand it."

"Thank you for the reminder, Elder."

All three of them committed the rules of the Fire Melting Cave to memory.

After all, the Fire Melting Cave was unlike any other place.

It was searingly hot here all year round.

If one didn’t follow the rules and wandered around recklessly, one could actually die.

With that, the three began to choose their own spots for Cultivation.

The Fire Melting Cave was spacious, with many suitable places to cultivate.

They occasionally encountered some Martial Artists exuding fearsome auras, who were likely disciples at the Inner Force or even Huajin level.

In theory, the deeper one went into the Fire Melting Cave, the higher the temperature. This meant that either the Martial Artists there had higher Cultivation and could withstand the heat...

...or they practiced a special Cultivation Technique that made them unafraid of the scorching temperatures.

The heat within the Fire Melting Cave seemed to be geothermal.

The heat rose up from the ground.

Pei Hongluan and Zhang Yuan quickly chose their Cultivation spots.

The two of them settled quite far apart from each other.

As for Zhang Su...

He found himself in a strange situation.

When he circulated only the Fiery Sun Divine Technique, the temperature felt just right. However, if he added the Blazing Sun Divine Technique, it clearly wasn’t suitable anymore.

The temperature was still a bit too low.

And if he were to circulate the Extreme Yang Divine Technique as well, Zhang Su’s temperature requirement would be even higher.

So, Zhang Su headed deeper into the Fire Melting Cave.

Deeper and deeper he went.

Zhang Su even saw some older Martial Artists sitting cross-legged in various corners.

’At the very least, they must be Gang Force experts,’ Zhang Su estimated.

’They’re probably trying to break through to the Postnatal Realm.’

This was a huge threshold in the Martial Dao.

Only by crossing it could one truly be called an expert.

But Zhang Su didn’t stop.

He felt he could still take it.

So, he continued walking deeper.

The further in he went, the fewer Martial Artists there were.

But the aura of each one he saw was shocking to Zhang Su.

’The Postnatal Realm!’

’They must be Postnatal Realm experts!’

Without realizing it, he had actually arrived at the area where Postnatal Realm experts practiced in seclusion.

Zhang Su looked down at the ground.

The heat rising from below was so intense it had almost become a mist, filling the entire Fire Melting Cave.

The temperature here had reached a terrifyingly high level.

By now, Zhang Su was circulating all three divine techniques inside his body.

Only now did he begin to feel relatively comfortable.

’This should be about right. Right here.’

Zhang Su settled on the spot.

He found a suitable place nearby and immediately sat down cross-legged.

Then, he began to actively circulate the Three Yang Divine Techniques.

One technique, two techniques, three techniques...

When all Three Supreme Divine Skills were circulating together, Zhang Su felt exceptionally comfortable.

The intense external heat suddenly seemed to turn cool and refreshing.

He could clearly feel that the rate at which his Qi Blood was converting into Inner Strength had greatly increased.

However, Zhang Su still felt it wasn’t enough.

He immediately took out the Primordial Yang Powder he carried.

He had made thorough preparations for this Cultivation session in the Fire Melting Cave.

Zhang Su immediately consumed the Primordial Yang Powder.

RUMBLE.

Instantly, Zhang Su’s Qi Blood felt as if it were boiling.

Its circulation speed accelerated once again.

From a distance, Zhang Su’s entire body looked like a boiled red shrimp.

Clearly, this was the limit of what his body could endure.

Any more intense, and his body would not be able to take it.

’The Fire Melting Cave plus Primordial Yang Powder... now that’s what I’m talking about!’

Zhang Su grimaced in pain.

But inwardly, he still felt incredibly refreshed.

Because after taking the Primordial Yang Powder, the speed at which Inner Strength was generated within him grew even faster.

Among the Three Yang Divine Techniques, only the Fiery Sun Divine Technique had reached Minor Achievement. The other two divine techniques were still just at the entry-level.

’I can’t wait to see what Realm my Three Yang Divine Techniques will reach after a month in this Fire Melting Cave.’

Day by day, time passed.

The temperature within the Fire Melting Cave grew higher and higher.

The geothermal heat became increasingly dense.

The mist of heat spread from the depths of the Fire Melting Cave nearly to its entrance.

Zhang Su was completely unaware of just how terrifying his Three Yang Divine Techniques were.

He was simultaneously practicing Cultivation with Three Supreme Divine Skills, all of which were of the Extreme Yang attribute.

His attraction to the geothermal heat of the Fire Melting Cave reached an unprecedented level.

The entire Fire Melting Cave underwent an astonishing transformation.

It even began to affect conditions outside.

"What’s going on? The temperature in the Fire Melting Cave is too high..."

"The geothermal heat is so dense. One careless mistake during Cultivation and you’ll get burned."

"What happened in the Fire Melting Cave? Why such a huge change...?"

Every Martial Artist inside the Fire Melting Cave was startled awake.

Disciples with lower Cultivation levels, like Zhang Yuan and Pei Hongluan, were already near the entrance.

But now, because the geothermal heat was too dense and the temperature too high, they were forced to move again, until they could practically only sit at the very entrance to cultivate.

At the same time, in the sky near the Fire Melting Cave, a massive, fiery red cloud formation was faintly taking shape.

This was a unique phenomenon caused by the immense temperature, a result of the Fire Melting Cave’s earth energy surging upwards in a short period.

Now, many people in the Guiyuan Sect could see it.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Several figures appeared outside the Fire Melting Cave in an instant.

Every one of them exuded an astonishingly powerful aura, far surpassing the Inner Strength Level.

They were all Postnatal Realm experts!

"Who is causing such a huge commotion in the Fire Melting Cave?"

"The geothermal heat in the Fire Melting Cave is too dense, we can’t see clearly anymore. We can only guess that the fluctuations are coming from deep within the cave."

"Deep within the Fire Melting Cave? That would only be some Gang Force Martial Artists or Postnatal Realm Martial Artists."

These Postnatal Realm masters discussed amongst themselves, but no one had any definite information. Each of them wanted to enter the Fire Melting Cave to investigate.

But as they tried to enter the Fire Melting Cave, they were stopped by a white-haired, white-bearded old man.

It was none other than Elder Jiang Hengyue, the guardian of the Fire Melting Cave!

"Halt, everyone! Have you forgotten the rules of the Fire Melting Cave? Those without a spot are not to enter!"

Elder Jiang Hengyue’s presence was so overwhelming that it forced many of the Postnatal Realm experts to take a few steps back.

"Elder Jiang, a strange phenomenon has occurred in the Fire Melting Cave. We are merely concerned for the safety of our disciples."

"Indeed, Elder Jiang. You have been guarding the Fire Melting Cave this whole time. Do you know who could have caused such a grand phenomenon?"

"Elder Jiang, could it be a disciple from my Cyan Wood Peak?"

However, no matter how they questioned him, Elder Jiang Hengyue remained silent.

The Fire Melting Cave was of paramount importance, and the interests of every faction were tied to it.

Among the many Elders of the Guiyuan Sect, he had always been neutral, never siding with any particular faction. This was precisely why the Sect Leader had tasked him with guarding the Fire Melting Cave.

He knew all too well what these Elders and Peak Masters from the various factions were scheming.

They were just trying to use any means necessary to get their hands on the Fire Melting Cave.

Jiang Hengyue would not allow it!

"My Yishui Peak currently has three Gang Force disciples in the Fire Melting Cave. This phenomenon was most likely caused by one of them."

"I disagree. A phenomenon like this, with earth energy surging and the clouds forming the shape of a fire phoenix, must be the work of the Fire Phoenix Nine Revolutions Divine Skill from my Jade Peak. It is surely one of my Jade Peak disciples."

"My Cyan Wood Peak has not only disciples but also an Elder in the Fire Melting Cave. A commotion of this scale was most likely caused by a Postnatal Realm Martial Artist, so it has to be someone from my Cyan Wood Peak."

The verbal sparring among the Elders and Peak Masters of the major Martial Veins was extremely fierce, with none willing to give an inch.

After all, the better a faction’s disciples performed in the Fire Melting Cave, the greater their advantage would be in the subsequent fight for spots.

The master of Bamboo Sword Peak, Qu Zhengliu, had actually arrived as well.

However, he did not speak.

There were disciples from Bamboo Sword Peak in the Fire Melting Cave too, and quite a few of them—mostly at the Inner Force and Huajin levels.

He too had to make the trip personally to fight for the interests of the Bamboo Sword Peak faction.

"Alright, stop arguing. Someone’s coming out of the Fire Melting Cave..."

Suddenly, everyone stopped arguing.

Their eyes were glued to the entrance of the Fire Melting Cave.

In the entrance, which was shrouded in geothermal mist, a blurry figure had indeed appeared.

At that moment, all the Elders and Peak Masters held their breath, their attention completely focused.

They wanted to see who this figure was—which peak’s genius could it be?