Unrestricted Dao Lord

"Next step, Inner Strength!"

Zhang Su knew very well that a thousand threads of Qi and Blood was the true limit.

There was no such thing as a third limit break.

With a thousand threads of Qi and Blood, he couldn’t hope to add a single additional thread.

But upon reaching a thousand threads of Qi and Blood, one was certain to generate Inner Strength.

And it would be generated naturally, as a matter of course.

However, this still required a process.

Perhaps ten days or half a month.

Or perhaps three to five days.

Therefore, having reached this stage, he no longer needed to deliberately refine his Qi Blood; he could just let things take their natural course.

With that, Zhang Su rose, left the secluded chamber, and went to the entrance of the Instructor Pavilion.

"Elder, I’ve come to return the Cultivation Technique."

Zhang Su returned the Yang Extreme Blood Nourishing Technique to the Instructor Pavilion Elder.

"Alright, you can leave the Cultivation Technique. Remember, if you struggle to reach Perfection, don’t waste any more time on the Yang Extreme Blood Nourishing Technique. You should focus on producing Inner Strength as soon as possible."

"Yes, I will keep your words in mind."

Zhang Su said respectfully.

Since he wasn’t actively circulating his Qi Blood, the Instructor Pavilion Elder had no idea he had already cultivated a thousand threads of it.

But this wasn’t something Zhang Su would go around announcing.

After returning the Cultivation Technique, he left the Instructor Pavilion.

’Such a waste of great talent... I hope he comes to his senses soon. I’d hate for him to waste years for nothing, just like Lu Tianqing...’

The Instructor Pavilion Elder shook his head to himself.

’Many young disciples don’t understand that those lost years can never be recovered...’

...

「In a secluded courtyard within the Guiyuan Sect’s Inner Sect.」

Lu Quan walked into the room in a hurry, his expression grave.

"Senior Brother Wei."

Wei Yunzhou was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Without even opening his eyes, he asked faintly, "What is it?"

"Senior Brother Wei, it’s about Lu Tianqing. After his promotion to the Inner Sect, the Sect has already rated him as having ’Two-star potential’!"

SWISH.

Wei Yunzhou’s eyes snapped open.

A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

"Two-star potential? Are you sure?"

"Senior Brother, it’s absolutely true. The news has spread throughout the Inner Sect. Many are saying that if Lu Tianqing hadn’t wasted several years on the Second Limit Breaking, he probably would have been judged as having ’Three-Star potential’."

Wei Yunzhou’s expression darkened.

Inner Sect Disciples were evaluated and sorted into five tiers based on their potential.

Ordinary Disciple, One-star Disciple, Two-star Disciple, Three-Star Disciple, and Sect’s Celestial Pride.

The reason Wei Yunzhou was taken in as a disciple by a Postnatal Realm Elder the moment he entered the Inner Sect was precisely because he had been rated as a ’Three-Star Disciple,’ signifying his immense potential!

He never expected that Lu Tianqing, after delaying in the Outer Sect for so many years before becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, could still be rated as a Two-star Disciple. This was truly far beyond Wei Yunzhou’s expectations.

’A Two-star Disciple... this is a bit troublesome. If I want to deal with him, I can’t use overly direct methods.’

Wei Yunzhou knew very well that in the Guiyuan Sect’s Inner Sect, even a One-star Disciple was considered a genius and would be prioritized for cultivation by the Sect.

To say nothing of Lu Tianqing, who was rated as a Two-star Disciple—his potential was even greater.

Even for him, a Three-Star Disciple, dealing with a Two-star Disciple would not be so easy.

"I’ll put Lu Tianqing aside for now. By the way, what about that Zhang Su?"

Wei Yunzhou hadn’t forgotten that the person he truly wanted to deal with was Zhang Su!

At these words, a smile appeared on Lu Quan’s face. "Senior Brother Wei, the news has spread all over the Outer Sect. That Zhang Su is aiming way too high. After luckily reaching the top spot in the Outer Sect, he deluded himself into thinking he was some peerless talent. He’s actually cultivating a second Unparalleled Divine Technique, attempting the Second Limit Breaking to condense a thousand threads of Qi and Blood."

"He wouldn’t even listen to the advice of the Instructor Pavilion Elder. In my opinion, he’s going to waste several good years in the Outer Sect. Who knows how long it’ll be before he finally cultivates Inner Strength..."

Wei Yunzhou also understood just how difficult the Second Limit Breaking was.

Lu Tianqing had spent years attempting the Second Limit Breaking, only to fail in the end.

’If I had been that fixated on the Second Limit Breaking back then, I most likely would have failed too.’

Now that Zhang Su was attempting the Second Limit Breaking, he believed the final result would be the same: failure.

"Then let him be. Zhang Su is already overage as it is. If he wastes a few more years, even if he gets promoted to the Inner Sect, his potential will be limited..."

Wei Yunzhou put on an air of nonchalance.

’If Zhang Su wastes a few more years, he’ll be no threat at all.’

...

「On Golden Domain Peak, Chu Dachuan and the other two were frantic with worry.」

They had already heard the rumors.

"Senior Brother Zhang is a once-in-a-generation talent, but how could he have fallen into the Second Limit Breaking trap, just like Lu Tianqing?"

"The Second Limit Breaking is so incredibly difficult! Lu Tianqing wasted years on it and still failed. Is Senior Brother Zhang going to follow in his footsteps?"

"Should we try to persuade Senior Brother Zhang?"

"The greater the genius, the more prideful they are. Even the Instructor Pavilion Elder couldn’t change his mind. What makes you think we can?"

The three had now thrown in their lot completely with Zhang Su; they would rise and fall together.

In their eyes, the so-called "Second Limit Breaking" and "Thousand Threads of Qi and Blood" were no different from a trap.

Success was utterly impossible!

Unfortunately, they couldn’t sway him.

The days passed, one by one.

One day, three days, five days, ten days...

Chu Dachuan and the other two found it very strange.

The Zhang Su they knew had once been like an ascetic monk, always either circulating his Qi Blood or honing his Martial Techniques.

But now?

Zhang Su was far too idle.

He was either reading miscellaneous books in the Instructor Pavilion or sunbathing on Golden Domain Peak.

Intense cultivation?

It seemed Zhang Su had given up on cultivating so intensely.

「One day, a special guest arrived on Golden Domain Peak.」

"Senior Brother... Lu?"

Chu Dachuan and the other two looked at each other in surprise.

They hadn’t expected Lu Tianqing to come to Golden Domain Peak again.

However, the three of them didn’t dare show any disrespect to Lu Tianqing.

After all, Lu Tianqing was an Inner Sect Disciple now!

"Where is Junior Brother Zhang?"

Lu Tianqing asked.

"Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Lu. We’ll go inform Senior Brother Zhang right away."

Chu Dachuan hurried away.

Before long, Zhang Su arrived in the main hall.

SWISH.

Lu Tianqing’s gaze fell on Zhang Su.

Chu Dachuan and the other two took the hint and discreetly left.

Only Zhang Su and Lu Tianqing remained in the main hall.

"Senior Brother Lu, what brings you to Golden Domain Peak?"

Zhang Su asked.

He and Lu Tianqing had only met once, so they hardly shared a deep friendship.

Lu Tianqing’s expression turned serious. In a solemn voice, he said, "Junior Brother Zhang, take my advice: don’t attempt the Second Limit Breaking. It will only be a waste of your time!"

"I know I may be overstepping, but you’re the only person who has ever defeated me. I don’t want to see a genius like you waste your talent."

Lu Tianqing was more than qualified to say this.

Because he really had wasted several years attempting the Second Limit Breaking.

In the end, he had failed.

In his opinion, Zhang Su’s talent was no less than his own.

There was no need to waste time in the Outer Sect.

The proper path was to get promoted to the Inner Sect as soon as possible!

Unfortunately, he had realized this far too late.

Lu Tianqing didn’t want Zhang Su to repeat his mistakes.

The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly grew heavy.

After a long moment, Zhang Su finally spoke slowly, "Thank you for coming all this way to warn me, Senior Brother Lu. I appreciate the sentiment."

Seeing Zhang Su’s calm expression, Lu Tianqing knew his words hadn’t gotten through.

He sighed inwardly.

’Geniuses like Zhang Su must all be incredibly proud.’

’Once they make a decision, they are not easily swayed.’

"Senior Brother Lu, would you mind letting me feel what real Inner Strength is like?"

Zhang Su suddenly asked.

"Of course..."

Lu Tianqing extended his hand.

Zhang Su also extended his hand.

Their palms met with a light clap.

Instantly, Zhang Su felt a strange, insidious power bore into his body.

His Qi Blood couldn’t block it at all.

’So, this is Inner Strength...’

Zhang Su understood.

He had read countless books in the Instructor Pavilion, all describing Inner Strength.

But no matter how clear the descriptions in the books were, they couldn’t compare to feeling it for himself.

And now, Zhang Su had felt it.

As the Inner Strength bored into his body.

His own immense Qi Blood erupted uncontrollably.

BOOM.

A torrent of scorching Qi Blood erupted from within Zhang Su’s body.

The Extreme Yang Qi Blood seemed to make the temperature in the main hall rise significantly in an instant.

But Lu Tianqing’s eyes suddenly locked on, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

He knew this immense Qi Blood all too well.

This was absolutely not the kind of momentum that could be emitted by nine hundred and ninety-nine threads of Qi and Blood.

Because he himself had once condensed nine hundred and ninety-nine threads of Qi and Blood, and it absolutely did not have this kind of momentum.

"A thou... a thousand threads of Qi and Blood?!"

Shock!

Utter, incomparable shock!

A tidal wave of shock crashed through Lu Tianqing’s mind!

’How could Zhang Su possibly have a thousand threads of Qi and Blood?’

’He had just been advising Zhang Su not to waste time.’

’And yet, Zhang Su had already completed the Second Limit Breaking and condensed a thousand threads of Qi and Blood!’

And that was only the beginning!

As the Qi Blood in Zhang Su’s body circulated, over and over again.

Without any deliberate refinement of his Qi Blood.

An extremely special power faintly began to form within Zhang Su’s Extreme Yang Qi Blood.

’Inner Strength... I’ve finally formed it!’

Zhang Su smiled.

Clearly, this was Inner Strength!

He had completed the Second Limit Breaking ten days ago, condensing a thousand threads of Qi and Blood.

Even just by letting things take their natural course, it was now time for his Inner Strength to form!