Unrestricted Dao Lord

"Hm? You three..."

Zhang Su’s brow furrowed.

’What are they up to?’

Chu Dachuan took a deep breath and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, from this day forward, we wish to follow you. We will go through fire and water and never waver!"

Zhang Su’s gaze swept over the three of them one by one.

"Is this what all three of you want?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to follow me? Although I defeated you, I’m not that much stronger. There are plenty of disciples in the Outer Sect who are more powerful than me."

Chu Dachuan’s expression was serious, and his tone was firm. "We have given this a great deal of thought. Senior Brother, in just half a month, you actually cultivated the Nine Shadows Sword Technique to Perfection. That level of talent in Swordsmanship is unparalleled in the entire Outer Sect!"

"Although you failed to cultivate any Qi Blood in the past year, that was only because you chose the wrong Cultivation Technique. Very few people in the entire history of the Guiyuan Sect have managed to master the Great River Divine Technique. But after you switched techniques, your strength soared."

"Plus, you have the backing of the Su Family, which means you have significant financial resources. You’re sure to become an Inner Sect Disciple in the future. If you could just give us a little help then, we might also have a chance to be promoted to the Inner Sect."

A trace of surprise flashed through Zhang Su’s eyes.

’This Chu Dachuan isn’t just acting on impulse. He’s clearly thought this through.’

’He’s thinking that far ahead?’

"I thought that since it took you ten days and you still hadn’t gathered the Blood Replenishing Pills, you were deliberately stalling, or even trying to find a way to deal with me," Zhang Su said with a half-smile.

Chu Dachuan shook his head. "What good would it do us to keep hounding and targeting you, Senior Brother? We’re not that foolish."

"We were selected by the Guiyuan Sect because we have some talent, but there are countless disciples with talent like ours. If we want to be promoted to the Inner Sect, talent alone isn’t enough. We need silver, connections, and opportunities."

"And right now, the only connection we have... is you, Senior Brother."

Zhang Su hadn’t expected Chu Dachuan and the others to see things so clearly.

’Their little trick of notifying Wang Hai before was really just a way to get me to give them the Blood Replenishing Pills.’

’From start to finish, their own interests have always come first.’

However, Zhang Su found it quite interesting.

’There’s nothing wrong with wanting benefits.’

’The prerequisite is that they have to be useful.’

"What can you do for me?"

Zhang Su asked.

Zhao Feng spoke up, "I can run errands for you, Senior Brother. If you need anything, you can just give me the order."

Du Tian then said, "I can gather all sorts of information for you. Even if you don’t leave your residence, you’ll know everything that’s going on in the Outer Sect."

Chu Dachuan pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I have some skill in Swordsmanship, so I can be your sparring partner! Also, if necessary, when you go down the mountain, we can accompany you!"

He had to admit, the three of them were smart.

’They know what I need.’

Zhang Su’s eyes narrowed slightly as he weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

’They do have some value.’

’They are highly utilitarian.’

’But as long as I can stay ahead of them and provide them with some benefits, people like this are actually easier to manage.’

"Oh, right. I have a piece of information that might be useful to you, Senior Brother."

Du Tian paused, then continued, "Wang Hai is a direct descendant of the Wang Family. He’s the third son. His eldest brother stayed home to inherit the family’s business, but he has a second brother who is also in the Guiyuan Sect’s Outer Sect. He’s Wang Feng, one of the Ten Great Outer Disciples."

"That Wang Hai does have some pride. Even though you taught him a lesson, he didn’t seem to have any intention of going to Wang Feng. Instead, it was Wang Feng who heard about it and is now having people investigate you."

Hearing this, Zhang Su was somewhat surprised.

"Wang Feng..."

He remembered the name.

One of the Ten Great Outer Disciples, at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm.

’He’s currently striving to be promoted to the Inner Sect.’

But Zhang Su hadn’t known that Wang Feng was actually Wang Hai’s second brother.

Zhang Su gave Du Tian a deep look.

"Alright. From now on, serve me well."

Zhang Su agreed.

Du Tian, Zhao Feng, and Chu Dachuan were overjoyed.

They came from humble backgrounds and had only been selected for the Guiyuan Sect’s Outer Sect because of a bit of talent.

The Guiyuan Sect’s approach to its Outer Disciples was like raising venomous insects in a jar—only the strongest would survive.

If they couldn’t distinguish themselves and get promoted to the Inner Sect, they would eventually fade into obscurity.

They had learned life’s harsh lessons early.

They had long understood the importance of "following the right person."

In their eyes, Zhang Su’s past behavior had been both childish and foolish.

Naturally, they wouldn’t follow someone childish and foolish.

But now, Zhang Su was different.

The current Zhang Su was someone worth following!

"Du Tian, keep an eye on Wang Feng. Report any news immediately."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Zhang Su then turned his gaze to Chu Dachuan.

He thought about his Triple Wave Sword Technique. It was still only at Great Success, with no signs of reaching Perfection.

’It seems I’m missing some kind of "catalyst."’

’Chu Dachuan is a very suitable sparring partner.’

"Chu Dachuan, practice Swordsmanship with me."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

So, Zhang Su continued his Cultivation by taking Blood Replenishing Pills while having Chu Dachuan spar with him.

「In the blink of an eye, a month passed.」

Chu Dachuan, as usual, prepared to spar with Zhang Su.

However, he didn’t dare disturb Zhang Su right now.

He could only stand by quietly and wait.

An unknown amount of time passed.

BOOM.

A terrifying wave of Qi Blood erupted from Zhang Su’s body and vanished in an instant.

Feeling this terrifying fluctuation of Qi Blood, Chu Dachuan showed little surprise. Instead, he bowed respectfully to Zhang Su and said, "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on condensing a Hundred Threads of Qi Blood and reaching Perfection. You can now try to condense Inner Strength!"

SWISH.

Zhang Su’s eyes snapped open.

"Condense Inner Strength? I’m still far from it..."

Zhang Su said lightly.

This wasn’t him being overly modest; it was the truth.

The Qi Blood Realm was divided into Nine Layers.

As long as one could condense ninety threads of Qi Blood, they could step into the Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm.

And normally, after reaching the Ninth Layer, one would continue to condense another ten threads to reach a total of a hundred. Then, they could begin practicing Cultivation Techniques that refined Qi Blood and gave birth to Inner Strength.

Above the Qi Blood Realm was the Inner Strength realm.

But Inner Strength was not so easily born.

Many Martial Artists at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm refined their Qi Blood for years without ever managing to produce Inner Strength.

"Senior Brother, in just one month, you’ve gone from the Fourth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm straight to the Ninth Layer, reaching the critical point for producing Inner Strength. This speed is already unbelievably fast. It’s only a matter of time before you give birth to Inner Strength..." Chu Dachuan said respectfully.

He no longer had any other thoughts or ambitions.

Over the past month, he had watched Zhang Su advance from the Fourth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm to the Ninth, and he had long since become numb to the shock.

This was to be expected.

Zhang Su’s Taotie Nourishing Blood Technique had already reached Perfection. Coupled with his daily consumption of Blood Nourishing Pills, he could cultivate two threads of Qi Blood a day.

In one month, he had cultivated sixty threads of Qi Blood.

Adding the forty threads he had before, that made exactly one Hundred Threads of Qi Blood!

To Zhang Su, this was simple.

But to Chu Dachuan and the others, it was completely unimaginable.

"Come, let’s practice swords."

And so, Chu Dachuan began sparring with Zhang Su.

Zhang Su used the Triple Wave Sword Technique.

This Swordsmanship didn’t require speed, but power.

Even though Zhang Su had suppressed his own Qi Blood.

But with just one move.

BANG.

Chu Dachuan felt a jolt run through his entire body.

The sword flew from his hand and fell to the ground.

CLANG.

Looking at the sword on the ground, Chu Dachuan’s expression darkened.

"Senior Brother, I..."

Chu Dachuan knew very well that he was no longer even qualified to be a sparring partner.

’What use could I be to Zhang Su now?’

Zhang Su glanced at his status panel.

Host: Zhang Su

Cultivation: Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm

Triple Wave: Compatibility 91% (Great Success)

Compatibility Value: 1

An entire month had passed, and even with Chu Dachuan as a sparring partner, Zhang Su’s Triple Wave Sword Technique was still only at Great Success.

There was no sign of it reaching Perfection.

Zhang Su knew the reason lay with Chu Dachuan.

Chu Dachuan practiced Fast Sword, while Zhang Su practiced Triple Wave, which excelled in power. His opponent couldn’t even block a single strike.

In this situation, how could Zhang Su possibly find his catalyst?

To bring the Triple Wave Sword Technique to Perfection, it would be best to spar with someone using a similar type of Martial Technique. Only then might he have a flash of insight or find the catalyst he needed.

’Do I really have to use my one point of Compatibility Value?’

He had obtained this point of Compatibility Value when his Taotie Nourishing Blood Technique reached Perfection.

Compatibility Value was hard to come by.

’Using it on the Triple Wave Sword Technique would be a bit of a waste.’

"Chu Dachuan, are there any disciples in the Outer Sect who practice a Swordsmanship or Saber Technique similar to the Triple Wave Sword Technique? Their Cultivation needs to be high, preferably also at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm."

Zhang Su asked.

"There are. Senior Brother, I have already prepared a list. Please take a look."

As if he had long been prepared, Chu Dachuan immediately took out a list.

"Hm?"

"You’re quite thorough..."

Zhang Su was very satisfied.

Chu Dachuan was no longer a qualified sparring partner, but he knew what Zhang Su needed.

Zhang Su took the list and his gaze swept over it.

The first name on the list made Zhang Su’s eyes narrow slightly.

"Wang Feng..."

That was a name Zhang Su hadn’t forgotten.

He was Wang Hai’s second brother.