Unrestricted Dao Lord

Host: Zhang Su

Cultivation: Ninth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm

Triple Wave: Compatibility 91% (Perfection)

Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique: Compatibility 100% (Perfection)

Compatibility Value: 8

On the panel, Zhang Su’s Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique had already reached Perfection.

In fact, seven days ago, Zhang Su had used one thousand contribution points to redeem the Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique. He then immediately spent eight points of Compatibility Value to raise its Compatibility to 100%.

It was by relying on the Perfected Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique that Zhang Su had broken through the limits of the human body.

With the Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique at Perfection, he could now cultivate about eight wisps of Qi Blood per day.

This was simply terrifying.

Before, Zhang Su could only manage to cultivate two wisps of Qi Blood a day.

The Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique truly lived up to its name as an Unparalleled Cultivation Technique.

The cultivation speed was just too fast.

However, the consumption was equally terrifying.

He needed to consume four Blood Replenishing Pills every day.

Zhang Su had used his last three hundred contribution points to exchange for Blood Replenishing Pills.

Combined with the twenty pills he had left over from before, he had barely managed to sustain himself until now.

But now, he had run out of Blood Replenishing Pills completely.

Moreover, tomorrow was the seventh day of the month, and he had to go down the mountain.

He would likely have to stay at the foot of the mountain for a few days.

But his cultivation could not be delayed.

Without Blood Replenishing Pills, his cultivation progress would be very slow, even with the Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique at Perfection.

Zhang Su couldn’t stand such a slow pace.

Therefore, he had to restock on Blood Replenishing Pills before leaving. That way, his cultivation wouldn’t be delayed even when he was off the mountain.

Furthermore, Zhang Su still had eight points of Compatibility Value, one of which he had gained after reaching Perfection in the Heaven-Swallowing Blood Nourishing Technique.

These eight points were enough to level up an Unparalleled Martial Technique.

To become one of the Ten Great Outer Disciples, an Unparalleled Martial Technique was essential.

But redeeming an Unparalleled Martial Technique required a thousand contribution points.

And getting a batch of Blood Replenishing Pills would also cost a good number of contribution points.

He didn’t have a single contribution point left.

He was completely broke.

"Money..."

Zhang Su sighed.

They say scholars can be poor, but warriors must be rich. How true.

’Without money, how can one even practice martial arts?’

Zhang Su lifted his head and looked toward Chu Dachuan and the other two.

"You three, do you have any silver?"

"Uh... how would we have any silver?"

The three of them shook their heads.

They didn’t have two coins to rub together.

If they really had silver, they would have exchanged it for Blood Replenishing Pills long ago.

Why else would their Qi Blood cultivation be progressing so slowly?

"Senior Brother, if you’re really short on silver, there is a place that might be able to solve your problem temporarily."

Du Tian spoke up, choosing his words carefully.

"Oh? What place is that?"

Zhang Su asked.

"The Mutual Aid Association!"

"The Mutual Aid Association?"

Zhang Su searched his memory.

’Doesn’t ring a bell...’

He had no recollection of it at all.

Du Tian explained, "Senior Brother, you used to be... well, a bit weak, so only the more talented Outer Disciples could join. The purpose of this Mutual Aid Association is to sponsor the genius disciples of the Outer Sect."

"With your current status, Senior Brother, if you go to the Mutual Aid Association, someone should be willing to offer you funding."

Zhang Su’s eyes lit up at Du Tian’s words.

’There’s a great place like that?’

"Du Tian, I’ll leave this to you. Get the word out to the Mutual Aid Association that I need funding. I want you to collect all the offers from anyone willing to sponsor me, along with their terms. I’ll make the final decision."

Zhang Su entrusted the matter to Du Tian.

Du Tian was overjoyed.

’This is a very important task.’

’If I can pull this off, my standing with Senior Brother Zhang Su will improve dramatically.’

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I’ll get this done as quickly as possible."

With that, Du Tian hurried away.

Zhang Su waited quietly.

About two hours later, Du Tian rushed back.

He had a faint smile on his face.

’It seems he’s handled the matter I gave him.’

Just as he expected, Du Tian respectfully reported to Zhang Su, "Senior Brother, the people at the Mutual Aid Association were very receptive. News that you need funding spread quickly within the association. However, while many people are interested in sponsoring you, the offers themselves aren’t that generous..."

Du Tian presented a list.

On it were the names of the people and factions willing to sponsor Zhang Su.

According to the Mutual Aid Association’s rules, funding is divided into five levels.

Fourth-Level Funding is the lowest, followed by Third-Level, and so on. Under normal circumstances, First-Level Funding is the highest.

However, there is also rumored to be a "Special-Grade Funding" within the association.

But the conditions for it are extremely harsh.

In all the years of the Guiyuan Sect’s Outer Sect, no one has ever managed to obtain Special-Grade Funding.

"How much funding do these five levels provide?"

Zhang Su asked.

"Senior Brother, for these five levels: Fourth-Level Funding provides five hundred taels of silver per month. Third-Level provides one thousand taels per month. Second-level Funding provides three thousand taels per month. And First-Level provides five thousand taels per month."

"As for Special-Grade Funding, there’s no set amount of silver. It’s said to be negotiated between the two parties."

Following Du Tian’s detailed explanation, Zhang Su now understood the charter for these five levels of funding.

’Fourth-level funding... is five hundred taels of silver a month?’

Zhang Su was inwardly shaken.

’In that case, the five hundred taels of silver my older brother gives me each month is, in theory, enough to sponsor a genius disciple from the Guiyuan Sect’s Outer Sect?’

"So, what are the sponsored disciples required to do?"

Zhang Su asked again.

’It’s impossible to get funding for nothing.’

’These sponsors, whether individuals or factions, always expect a return on their investment.’

"If a sponsor runs into trouble and requests the sponsored disciple’s help, the disciple is required to step in and resolve the issue, provided it’s within their capabilities."

"However, the number of requests can’t be excessive. It’s usually just once or twice a year. If they ask too often, the sponsored disciple can refuse. Furthermore, if the disciple feels they can’t handle the problem, or if it poses a threat to their life, they can also refuse to help."

Zhang Su frowned.

’These terms seem a bit... one-sided.’

’They’re heavily skewed in favor of the sponsored disciple—that is, in favor of the Guiyuan Sect disciple.’

Du Tian explained, "Senior Brother, the sponsors aren’t really looking for a hired hand. What they truly want is to establish a connection with a genius disciple of the Guiyuan Sect."

"They hope the disciple they sponsor will be promoted to the Inner Sect and become an Inner Sect Disciple. When that happens, the mere association with an Inner Sect Disciple’s name can bring immense benefits to the sponsor."

"Therefore, sponsors are most willing to fund disciples who have a high chance of being promoted to the Inner Sect."

"And you... although you are very strong, and your talent in Martial Techniques is plain for all to see, you are now an Overage Disciple, Senior Brother. It’s much harder for you to be promoted to the Inner Sect than it is for an ordinary Outer Disciple."

"That’s why the offers sent over by the Mutual Aid Association are almost all for Fourth-Level Funding."

Zhang Su looked through the lists of offers.

Just as Du Tian said, they were almost all for Fourth-Level Funding.

Zhang Su was well aware of his disadvantage compared to the other geniuses in the Outer Sect.

His age!

According to the Guiyuan Sect’s rules, an Outer Disciple under the age of sixteen can be promoted to the Inner Sect upon cultivating Inner Strength.

Zhang Su was already sixteen, past the age limit.

Of course, there was another path to becoming an Inner Sect Disciple in the Guiyuan Sect.

However, this path was much more difficult.

For an Overage Disciple, it wasn’t enough to just cultivate Inner Strength. To be promoted to the Inner Sect, they had to pass an additional "Combat Power Assessment."

This "Combat Power Assessment" was extremely difficult.

Many Overage Disciples failed to pass the Combat Power Assessment, even after successfully cultivating Inner Strength.

Clearly, in the eyes of the Guiyuan Sect’s upper echelons, the only value an Overage Disciple had was their "combat power."

Their potential was no longer a factor.

They could only be judged on their combat power.

If their combat power was astonishing, they could still be promoted to the Inner Sect and receive the Sect’s resources for training.

Similarly, the funding offers he was receiving now were based on expectations of his combat power, not his potential.

Hence, they only offered Fourth-Level Funding.

And even that was a risk on their part.

After all, they had no idea that Zhang Su had cultivated an Unparalleled Cultivation Technique.

He could only accept one sponsorship deal.

Otherwise, if someone accepted eight or ten deals, took the money, and ran, there wasn’t much the Mutual Aid Association could do.

After all, although these sponsorships involved a contract, the sponsors were generally in a weaker position when dealing with Guiyuan Sect disciples.

If a Guiyuan Sect disciple didn’t care about their reputation and simply broke the contract, the sponsors would most likely be left without any recourse.

"One sponsorship deal would give me five hundred taels of silver a month at most. That’s too little..."

Zhang Su shook his head.

Seeing Zhang Su’s dissatisfaction, Du Tian said nervously, "Senior Brother, if you want to get a higher level of funding, you’ll have to demonstrate your talent—or rather, your potential."

Zhang Su nodded.

He stood up immediately and said to Du Tian, "Let’s go. Take me to the Mutual Aid Association."

"Senior Brother, you’re really going to the Mutual Aid Association?"

Du Tian was a little surprised.

"Of course. Only by going to the Mutual Aid Association in person can I show them my potential and convince those sponsors to increase their offers."

"Alright, then please follow me, Senior Brother."

And so, Du Tian led Zhang Su out of the room and headed straight for the Mutual Aid Association.