Unrestricted Dao Lord

"Bamboo Sword Peak..."

Inside his room, Zhang Su fiddled with the jade pendant in his hand.

The jade pendant had been given to him by Elder Zhao of the Instructor Pavilion. It must be the Elder’s personal token.

With this token, he could enter Bamboo Sword Peak.

But now, he was considering whether he should even go to Bamboo Sword Peak.

In his journey from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect, Zhang Su had forged a great reputation for himself without any guidance.

He was confident that even without a master, he could walk far along the path of the Martial Dao.

However, taking a master was certainly an option.

One only had to look at Wei Yunzhou to understand. Simply by taking a Postnatal Realm Elder as his master, his identity and status had become completely different from those of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.

For two people practicing the same martial arts, the one with a powerful master from a prominent background would surely have a smoother journey on the Martial Dao.

’The pros outweigh the cons!’

With this thought, Zhang Su made up his mind.

’Since I have the opportunity, I will take a master!’

First, Zhang Su took some time to get himself into peak condition.

He waited until the next day. After bathing and changing his clothes, he finally pushed open the door and headed straight for Bamboo Sword Peak.

Zhang Su had never been to Bamboo Sword Peak before.

However, Bamboo Sword Peak was very famous, so he could find it just by asking around a little in the Inner Sect.

Soon, Zhang Su arrived at the foot of Bamboo Sword Peak.

To his surprise, many disciples were milling about at the foot of the mountain.

Judging by their attire, they were almost all disciples from the Inner Sect’s Inheritance Sequence.

’Why is Bamboo Sword Peak so bustling?’

Zhang Su really didn’t know.

’What are all these people doing here at the foot of Bamboo Sword Peak?’

Zhang Su squeezed his way into the crowd and casually asked an Inner Sect Disciple, "Why is Bamboo Sword Peak so busy? What’s going on?"

"You don’t know?"

The other disciple glanced at Zhang Su’s robes and seemed to "understand" immediately. A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes as he said coolly, "That’s right. A Dharma Protector Disciple like you wouldn’t need to know about Bamboo Sword Peak."

"A rumor has been going around that Elder Qu, the Peak Master of Bamboo Sword Peak, is planning to recruit a new disciple from within the Inner Sect. So now, you have all these Inner Sect Disciples showing up uninvited, hanging around the foot of the mountain in the hopes of being chosen by the Peak Master."

"Of course, Bamboo Sword Peak only accepts Inheritor Disciples..."

The implication was clear: Dharma Protector Disciples should just stay out of it.

Zhang Su naturally understood his meaning.

Just a few unsubstantiated rumors about Bamboo Sword Peak, from who knows where, were enough to attract this many Inner Sect Inheritor Disciples.

There were likely plenty of One-star and even Two-star Disciples among them.

There were truly a great many disciples who wished to join Bamboo Sword Peak.

After that disciple finished speaking, he didn’t pay any more attention to Zhang Su.

He assumed Zhang Su was just another onlooker.

After all, even though they were all Inner Sect Disciples, someone from the Guardian Sequence had absolutely no chance of being accepted into Bamboo Sword Peak.

Many disciples were blocking the path at the foot of Bamboo Sword Peak.

It was not easy to enter Bamboo Sword Peak.

Zhang Su didn’t just wait around foolishly.

He pushed his way through the crowd and walked forward.

Many people noticed Zhang Su, their expressions tinged with surprise. They wondered what a Dharma Protector Disciple like him was trying to do. ’Surely he doesn’t think he can just walk up Bamboo Sword Peak?’

Zhang Su walked up to a few disciples from Bamboo Sword Peak and presented the jade pendant from Elder Zhao.

"Hmm?"

’Elder Zhao’s token? Senior Sister Yu told us to let anyone pass who came to Bamboo Sword Peak with Elder Zhao’s token. Could this be him?’

The Bamboo Sword Peak disciples looked at each other.

They immediately stepped aside.

"Please."

Zhang Su nodded, walked straight past the crowd, and headed towards the summit of Bamboo Sword Peak.

"What? He... he’s actually going up Bamboo Sword Peak?"

Everyone was dumbfounded.

They had seen it clearly—the robes Zhang Su wore were those of a Dharma Protector Disciple!

Since when could Dharma Protector Disciples enter Bamboo Sword Peak?

But it was the truth!

Zhang Su was ascending Bamboo Sword Peak.

"Wait, I think I recognize him... That’s Zhang Su, the one who was just promoted to the Inner Sect. He used to be the Outer Sect First!"

"So it’s him... The Outer Sect First. What a reputation. Is that why Bamboo Sword Peak is making an exception for him?"

"No, it’s too early to say he’s been accepted. He’s only been allowed onto the mountain for now. Whether he’ll actually become a disciple of Bamboo Sword Peak is still up in the air..."

Many of the Inner Sect Disciples were murmuring amongst themselves.

But their eyes were all full of envy.

After all, who didn’t want to ascend Bamboo Sword Peak?

Zhang Su followed a Bamboo Sword Peak disciple, step by step, to the summit of Bamboo Sword Peak.

There were bamboo forests everywhere here.

And, there were many swords made of bamboo.

Although they were only bamboo swords, they seemed to emanate a sharp, fierce intent.

It was indeed worthy of the name "Bamboo Sword."

In a pavilion, Zhang Su saw a tall, statuesque woman with a frosty, aloof beauty.

The Bamboo Sword Peak disciple who had led Zhang Su up the mountain hurried over and reported respectfully, "Senior Sister Yu, this is the disciple you spoke of, the one carrying Elder Zhao’s token."

Yu Jingjing’s face was devoid of expression as she sized Zhang Su up. Then, her brow furrowed slightly. "A disciple from the Guardian Sequence?"

Zhang Su nodded. "Yes, I just passed the Combat Power Assessment and entered the Inner Sect."

"Then are you a Two-star Disciple or a Three-Star Disciple?"

It seemed that in Yu Jingjing’s mind, any disciple recommended to Bamboo Sword Peak by "Elder Zhao" should be a Two-star or Three-Star Disciple at the very least.

But Zhang Su shook his head. "Neither a Two-star nor a Three-Star. I’m an Ordinary Disciple."

"An Ordinary Disciple... not even a One-Star?"

Yu Jingjing’s eyes widened.

"That’s right."

Zhang Su’s reply was terse, his expression calm.

"Your name is Zhang Su, correct?"

"I am Zhang Su."

Yu Jingjing double-checked the information she had.

It all matched.

The person her master had spoken of must be this Zhang Su.

’But how could a disciple from the Guardian Sequence—an Ordinary Disciple without even a One-Star rating—be recommended by "Elder Zhao"?’

Although Yu Jingjing had a million questions, this was the disciple recommended by "Elder Zhao," and someone her master had specifically told her to expect. She didn’t dare turn him away.

"Fine. Follow me. My master has given instructions. If you can pass three trials, you may enter Bamboo Sword Peak and become his disciple."

"Three trials?"

"That’s right. With the exception of a few extremely special disciples recruited by my master personally, anyone who wishes to join Bamboo Sword Peak must pass three trials."

Although Zhang Su felt it was a bit troublesome, he still stayed.

But Bamboo Sword Peak’s reputation was immense, and "Elder Qu" was one of the top experts in the entire Guiyuan Sect.

It was only natural that the requirements would be strict.

Thus, Zhang Su followed Yu Jingjing to a pond from which a cold mist was rising.

"This is the Cold Ice Pool," Senior Sister Yu explained. "To a certain extent, it can test your foundation. This is your first trial."

"Foundation?"

Although Zhang Su didn’t know how this Cold Ice Pool tested one’s foundation, he still followed Yu Jingjing’s instructions and jumped directly into the Cold Ice Pool.

SPLASH.

Zhang Su stood in the Cold Ice Pool.

Instantly, a biting coldness began to invade his body.

However, the Qi Blood and Inner Strength within him automatically resisted the encroaching chill.

As time passed, the cold grew more and more intense.

CRACK.

The vast Cold Ice Pool actually began to freeze over.

WHOOSH.

The next moment, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The Qi Blood in Zhang Su’s body seemed to boil, radiating waves of heat that forcibly melted the solid ice in the pool.

As for the coldness, it dissipated the very instant it touched Zhang Su’s Extreme Yang Qi Blood.

"What...? Such a profound foundation... This is a Supreme Foundation!"

Yu Jingjing was shocked.

She knew all too well how terrifying the cold in the Cold Ice Pool was.

And yet, it had no effect on Zhang Su?

"Alright, you can come out now..."

Hearing Yu Jingjing’s voice, Zhang Su immediately got up and walked out of the Cold Ice Pool.

Yu Jingjing studied Zhang Su carefully. Seeing that he was completely unharmed, a look of confusion crossed her face.

’How could someone with such a profound foundation like Zhang Su end up as a disciple in the Guardian Sequence?’

Yu Jingjing couldn’t make any sense of it.

The Inner Sect Disciples who could join Bamboo Sword Peak were all the cream of the crop, all with profound foundations.

But a foundation as profound as Zhang Su’s was quite rare.

In truth, this was to be expected.

After all, Zhang Su had undergone a Second Limit Breaking and forged a Supreme Foundation.

When it came to the depth of one’s foundation, he was second to no disciple in the entire Guiyuan Sect.

However, this was only the first trial.

Yu Jingjing then brought Zhang Su to a huge stone wall in the main hall of Bamboo Sword Peak.

This stone wall was covered in a series of lifelike murals.

These murals seemed to hold various forms of Swordsmanship.

Yu Jingjing spoke. "This is our Bamboo Sword Peak’s ’Sword Wall.’ It contains all manner of profound Swordsmanship. I will give you one hour. Study it well and see what Swordsmanship you can comprehend."

Zhang Su nodded.

He began to carefully observe each "mural."

As he watched, the "murals" seemed to burst into "motion" from their static state.

Staring intently at the "Sword Wall," he began to practice along with the movements in the murals.

SWISH SWISH SWISH.

Zhang Su’s sword became faster with each strike.

An onlooker would only see a blur of sword light, completely unable to make out Zhang Su’s Sword Techniques. Faint sounds of wind and thunder echoed from within the blur of light.

Before he knew it, an hour had passed.

"Zhang Su."

Just then, he heard Yu Jingjing’s voice.

"Time is up, Zhang Su. What Swordsmanship did you comprehend?" Yu Jingjing asked.

A swordsmanship technique immediately appeared in Zhang Su’s mind.

"Wind and Thunder Sword Technique: Compatibility 95% (Minor Achievement)"

Zhang Su was a little surprised.

He had unexpectedly gained a new Inner Strength Level Swordsmanship with a Compatibility of 95%. This was a truly pleasant surprise.

"The Wind and Thunder Sword Technique."

Zhang Su answered truthfully.

"The Wind and Thunder Sword Technique?"

Yu Jingjing’s eyes widened in shock.

The Wind and Thunder Sword Technique was a top-tier form of Swordsmanship.

While not an "Unparalleled Swordsmanship," it was definitely one of the strongest techniques recorded on the "Sword Wall."

Being able to comprehend the Wind and Thunder Sword Technique from the "Sword Wall" proved that Zhang Su’s aptitude for comprehension was outstanding.

Yu Jingjing’s expression grew complicated.

’A profound foundation, outstanding comprehension...’

She was more bewildered than ever. ’With this level of talent, how did Zhang Su end up as a disciple in the Guardian Sequence?’

’Could it be that the quality of disciples in the Guardian Sequence is this high these days?’

’No wonder her master wanted her to "handle" Zhang Su personally.’

’She had almost made the mistake of judging a book by its cover. The moment she saw his Dharma Protector Disciple robes, she had assumed his talent was mediocre.’

’She never expected that his foundation and comprehension would be even better than many of the disciples on Bamboo Sword Peak.’

Although there was still one final trial left.

But Yu Jingjing knew that as long as he didn’t perform too poorly on the final trial, her master would most likely accept Zhang Su into Bamboo Sword Peak, if only out of respect for "Elder Zhao."