Unrestricted Dao Lord

This wasn’t Zhang Su’s first time at the Instructor Pavilion.

However, things were different now that he wore the attire of an Inner Sect Disciple.

Any Outer Disciple who saw him would lower their head and immediately step aside to let him pass.

It was a fear that came from the very marrow of their bones.

Even when Zhang Su had reached the rank of Outer Sect First, he hadn’t commanded such reverence.

An Inner Sect Disciple—this was the ultimate goal for which countless Outer Disciples strived!

Zhang Su arrived at the entrance of the Instructor Pavilion and stopped.

This was because Martial Arts at the Inner Strength Level had to be chosen from the second floor.

One could only ascend to the second floor after an Instructor Pavilion Elder verified their identity.

"Elder, this disciple, Zhang Su, requests permission to enter the second floor to select Martial Arts."

Zhang Su said respectfully.

"Hm? You’ve cultivated Inner Strength?"

The Instructor Pavilion Elder’s eyes snapped open.

He knew Zhang Su.

In fact, Zhang Su had left a deep impression on him.

After all, he had once advised Zhang Su not to aim too high and waste time on a Second Limit Breaking.

And now, after such a short time, Zhang Su had already cultivated Inner Strength?

Something wasn’t right!

Something was very wrong!

"Yes, this disciple has already cultivated Inner Strength and been promoted to the Inner Sect."

Zhang Su answered truthfully.

"Inner Strength... You wouldn’t mind extending your hand and letting this old man have a look, would you? By the way, this old man’s surname is Zhao."

Zhang Su thought for a moment before extending his hand.

Elder Zhao immediately clasped Zhang Su’s hand. Zhang Su felt a faint, stinging pain in his palm, as if a surge of power had entered his body.

But it caused him no harm.

A moment later, Elder Zhao released his hand.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he asked, "You haven’t taken a master yet, have you?"

"No, I was promoted to the Inner Sect through the Combat Power Assessment."

Elder Zhao understood instantly.

"So, a Dharma Protector Disciple... Alright, since you’ve just been promoted to the Inner Sect, you can select two Martial Arts of the Inner Strength Level for free. If you want to choose more, you’ll have to exchange contribution points."

"Thank you, Elder Zhao. This disciple understands."

With that, Zhang Su turned and walked toward the second floor of the Instructor Pavilion.

Watching Zhang Su’s retreating back, a look of excitement appeared on the Instructor Pavilion Elder’s face.

’A Supreme Foundation. There’s no mistaking it! He must have achieved Second Limit Breaking and condensed a Thousand Threads of Qi and Blood! Otherwise, it would be impossible to forge a Supreme Foundation...’

’A shame he’s a Dharma Protector Disciple. If only he were an Inheritor Disciple... Still, Old Ghost Qu will probably take him as his disciple, right? To think such a fine seedling will fall into Old Ghost Qu’s lap...’

Elder Zhao had already made up his mind to recommend him to "Old Ghost Qu."

In all his years at the Instructor Pavilion, this was the first time he had ever encountered a disciple who had forged a Supreme Foundation.

Such an opportunity was a matter of luck, not searching!

Although he was over the ideal age, and his chances of reaching the Innate realm were slim, anyone who could forge a Supreme Foundation—even a disciple in the Guardian Sequence—was destined to become a peerless combatant, an invincible powerhouse, a "War God" of a man!

If he weren’t so old, willing in spirit but weak in flesh, he would have taken such a fine seedling for himself. Why would he let someone else have a turn?

Now, he could only let Old Ghost Qu get lucky!

...

Zhang Su had arrived on the second floor of the Instructor Pavilion.

He was unaware of Elder Zhao’s thoughts.

Even if he did know, he wouldn’t have cared much.

In his martial practice, he had never relied on anyone else’s guidance.

He relied on himself!

The collection of books on the second floor was clearly much smaller than the one on the first.

After all, the number of Martial Arts for the Inner Strength Level was bound to be far less than those for the Qi Blood level.

However, every manual of Martial Arts here was a secret of the Guiyuan Sect, not to be taught lightly.

This was the true foundation of the Guiyuan Sect’s power!

First, the Cultivation Techniques.

These were the foundation of a Martial Artist.

Cultivation Techniques at the Inner Strength Level were also divided into Ordinary, Superior, Top-Level, and Unparalleled.

Zhang Su was exceptionally cautious when it came to choosing a Cultivation Technique.

A Cultivation Technique was what one used to build their foundation.

It couldn’t be practiced carelessly.

For example, Zhang Su learned that ordinary Inner Strength-level Cultivation Techniques basically carried no "attributes."

Their power was mediocre.

Only Superior-grade Cultivation Techniques and above came with unique "attributes."

For instance, some Cultivation Techniques had attributes like searing heat, potent venom, or freezing ice.

This wasn’t very apparent at the Outer Force stage.

But upon reaching the Inner Force stage, the might of an "attribute"-infused Inner Strength became terrifyingly powerful.

Because Zhang Su had practiced the Yang Extreme Blood Nourishing Technique, the Inner Strength he developed was naturally imbued with the "Extreme Yang" attribute.

Even if he were to practice an ordinary Inner Strength Cultivation Technique in the future, his Inner Strength would still be formidable.

Only then did Zhang Su understand the true value of the "Yang Extreme Blood Nourishing Technique"!

’Wait, when cultivating Inner Strength, there’s a possibility of conflicting attributes? If you practice an Extreme Yang Inner Strength Cultivation Technique, you can’t practice an Extreme Yin one...’

Zhang Su read some more common knowledge about Cultivation.

’Doesn’t that mean I can only choose Extreme Yang Cultivation Techniques?’

Zhang Su’s brow furrowed.

He flipped through many more books.

Eventually, in one of the volumes, he found a record concerning "Second Limit Breaking."

Any Martial Artist who had undergone a "Second Limit Breaking" possessed infinite potential. Their Inner Strength could accommodate any attribute, fusing them all into one. Like a vast ocean that accepts a hundred rivers, their combat power would be unmatched among those of the same realm...

Zhang Su’s eyes lit up.

He had previously only known that after a Second Limit Breaking, one’s Inner Strength would far surpass that of other Martial Artists of the same realm in both "quantity" and "quality."

Now, it seemed the "value" of Second Limit Breaking was even greater than he’d thought.

They could be like a vast ocean accepting a hundred rivers, practicing Inner Strength Cultivation Techniques of any attribute without them conflicting.

How huge was this advantage?

Of course, one still needed the comprehension and energy to practice so many Cultivation Techniques simultaneously.

For many Martial Artists, with their limited energy and comprehension, mastering even a single Inner Strength Cultivation Technique was already a struggle.

Practicing several at once?

There was no need.

Besides, having more Cultivation Techniques didn’t necessarily mean that one plus one equaled two.

It might not lead to any improvement at all.

It was better to just focus on one.

When Zhang Su chose a Cultivation Technique, he naturally aimed for an Unparalleled Cultivation Technique.

That went without saying.

Every Unparalleled Cultivation Technique had its own special qualities.

Compared to Superior and Top-Level Cultivation Techniques, they held a massive advantage.

Zhang Su looked through each of these Unparalleled Cultivation Techniques one by one.

It was a shame.

He had no affinity with these Unparalleled Cultivation Techniques.

The highest Compatibility he had with any of them was a mere 28%.

And he currently only had three points of Compatibility Value.

It wasn’t enough to raise the technique’s Compatibility to 100%. If he really tried to practice these Unparalleled Cultivation Techniques, he would struggle to even reach the entry-level.

Should he settle for the next best thing, a Top-Level Cultivation Technique?

There were indeed Top-Level Cultivation Techniques with over 70% Compatibility.

But Cultivation Techniques were not like Martial Techniques.

With Martial Techniques, one could argue that you can never know too many skills.

But if one accumulated too many trash-tier Cultivation Techniques, the "quality" of their Inner Strength would fall short of other Martial Artists.

The loss would outweigh the gain.

’Forget it. I’ll set aside the Cultivation Technique for now. Better to have nothing than something substandard! I can look at Inner Strength-level Martial Techniques, practice more, and accumulate more Compatibility Value...’

Zhang Su immediately began to select Inner Strength-level Martial Techniques.

This was much easier.

There were many Ordinary Martial Techniques, Superior Martial Techniques, and so on.

Although they were at the Inner Strength Level, his Compatibility with them was quite high.

Zhang Su still prioritized selecting Martial Techniques with over 90% Compatibility.

Most of them were Swordsmanship techniques.

Zhang Su selected ten Inner Strength-level Martial Techniques.

’That should be about enough.’

Inner Strength-level Martial Techniques were very expensive. Ordinary Martial Techniques cost five hundred contribution points, Superior Martial Techniques cost one thousand, and Top Martial Techniques cost three thousand.

Unparalleled Martial Techniques required a staggering five thousand contribution points.

The Martial Techniques Zhang Su chose were basically all Ordinary and Superior Martial Techniques.

After all, while he wasn’t exactly broke, he wasn’t wealthy enough to pick and choose these Martial Techniques at will.

Zhang Su returned to the entrance of the Instructor Pavilion and said to the elder, "Elder Zhao, this disciple has finished selecting his Martial Arts."

Elder Zhao took the list from Zhang Su’s hands.

"Hm? Seven Ordinary Martial Techniques and three Superior Martial Techniques? You’re certainly ’down-to-earth.’ You haven’t aimed too high, choosing techniques that are easy to cultivate."

"But you’ve only chosen Martial Techniques. You didn’t pick a Cultivation Technique?"

Elder Zhao asked in surprise.

"That is correct. This disciple is still unsure which Cultivation Technique to choose and hopes to inquire more and give it further consideration before making a decision."

Hearing this, Elder Zhao nodded. "Not bad. A Cultivation Technique is very important; it’s right to consider it carefully. However, you only get one chance to choose a Cultivation Technique for free. You must think it through."

"This disciple has thought it through."

"Fine. Two Superior Martial Techniques are free. That leaves one Superior Martial Technique and seven Ordinary Martial Techniques, for a total of four thousand five hundred contribution points."

Then, Elder Zhao handed Zhang Su a total of ten Martial Technique manuals.

"Same old rules. Take them to a Cultivation Room. They cannot be taken out of the Instructor Pavilion."

"This disciple understands. Thank you, Elder."

Zhang Su accepted the Martial Technique manuals and immediately headed for a Cultivation Room.

Watching Zhang Su’s departing back, the corner of Elder Zhao’s mouth twitched slightly, and he let out a long sigh.

’Three Superior Martial Techniques and seven Ordinary Martial Techniques... He didn’t aim too high, that’s for sure, but isn’t this a bit too ’practical’...? What’s the use of practicing so many Ordinary and Superior Martial Techniques?’

Elder Zhao knew very well that Zhang Su had forged a Supreme Foundation.

And yet, he was just practicing some Ordinary and Superior Martial Techniques.

In a sense, this was also a waste of talent.

’I wonder if Old Ghost Qu will still accept him as a disciple after hearing how ’practical’ Zhang Su is...’

Elder Zhao was conflicted.

’Forget it. I’ll just send all this information to Old Ghost Qu as is. Whether he accepts him or not is his business...’

Elder Zhao made his decision.

This sort of thing was a headache best left for Old Ghost Qu...