Unrestricted Dao Lord

Many disciples were coming and going in the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

The Martial Arts Arena, where the "rankings" took place, was particularly crowded.

For Inner Sect Disciples, the ranking evaluation was a major event that everyone took quite seriously.

Many disciples would prepare thoroughly, even calling on their friends to witness their ranking.

At this moment, a highly regarded Inner Sect Disciple was in the middle of her evaluation.

It was a woman in a white dress.

With long, flowing hair, a slender figure, and a cold, beautiful face, she had captured the attention of many Inner Sect Disciples.

"This is Senior Sister Ye Shuang’s third time trying for a ranking, right? For a Dharma Protector Disciple, getting from One-Star to Two-Star is just too difficult."

"Yeah, Senior Sister Ye Shuang is very strong among the Dharma Protector Disciples. She even cultivates an Unparalleled Swordsmanship, but she’s still just a One-Star Disciple after three attempts."

"Hopes are high for Senior Sister Ye Shuang this time..."

The disciples were all murmuring amongst themselves.

CRACK.

The next moment, one of the puppets shattered Ye Shuang’s longsword with a single punch.

Instantly, Ye Shuang’s face paled.

She stumbled back several steps. Though she hadn’t lost her ability to fight, what was the point now that her sword was broken?

Clearly, she had failed again!

"I... concede..."

Dejected, Ye Shuang walked off the Martial Arts Arena.

She didn’t even dare to meet the gazes of the other Inner Sect Disciples.

She knew all too well that this was her third failed ranking. She could only imagine how many disciples would be mocking her behind her back.

"Hm?"

Just as Ye Shuang was about to hurry out of the Inner Sect Grand Hall, she caught sight of an unfamiliar figure in her peripheral vision.

Moreover, she keenly sensed that the gazes of nearly every disciple in the Inner Sect Grand Hall had landed on that figure.

No one was even discussing her three failed attempts anymore.

’Who is he?’

A question formed in Ye Shuang’s mind.

She immediately stopped and stared at the figure.

Soon, Ye Shuang learned his name from the other Inner Sect Disciples.

Zhang Su!

Upon hearing the name, understanding dawned on Ye Shuang.

That name was now infamous throughout the Inner Sect!

Zhang Su had been promoted to the Inner Sect with the title of Outer Sect First, only to be relegated to the Guardian Sequence for being overage.

After that, as a mere Dharma Protector Disciple, he had audaciously tried to enter Bamboo Sword Peak and become a disciple to its master, only to be rejected.

Although few in the Inner Sect had likely ever seen Zhang Su, stories of his various exploits had long since spread throughout the sect.

Ye Shuang compared her own three failed rankings to Zhang Su’s "various exploits." What did her failures even matter in comparison?

And yet, Zhang Su’s expression remained calm and composed.

He seemed completely unaffected.

For a moment, Ye Shuang found herself not leaving the Inner Sect Grand Hall after all.

Her gaze was fixed on Zhang Su. She also wanted to know what he was doing here at the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

’Could it be... he’s also here for a ranking evaluation?’

This was what most of the Inner Sect Disciples were thinking as well.

They had indeed noticed Zhang Su.

Their attention had shifted from Ye Shuang to him.

After all, there was far too much to gossip about when it came to Zhang Su.

"Zhang Su is a recluse in the Inner Sect. Besides his courtyard, the only place he goes is the Instructor Pavilion. Why is he in the Inner Sect Grand Hall today?"

"Probably here for a ranking. After all, Zhang Su hasn’t been ranked yet. He’s just an Ordinary Disciple in the Inner Sect."

"Heh, he wanted to enter Bamboo Sword Peak without even a ranking? No wonder he was rejected."

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Zhang Su.

The previously noisy hall gradually fell silent.

Ignoring the crowd’s stares, Zhang Su walked step-by-step to the Inner Sect Elder, bowed, and said, "Disciple Zhang Su, here for a ranking evaluation."

With that, Zhang Su presented his Identity Token.

"Zhang Su, Dharma Protector Disciple of the Inner Sect, currently unranked. You must defeat ten Same Realm Puppets to be assessed as a ’One-Star Disciple.’ Do you understand?"

The Inner Sect Elder briefly explained the rules of the evaluation.

"This disciple understands."

"Good. Extend your hand. This old man will inspect it."

Zhang Su extended his hand.

The evaluation required defeating "Same Realm Puppets," which meant the disciple’s specific Cultivation had to be determined.

Soon, the Elder finished his inspection.

"Zhang Su, Early Stage of Outer Force Cultivation."

"Go. You just need to defeat ten puppets at the Early Stage of Outer Force. If you are outmatched, concede quickly to avoid injury. Otherwise, this old man may not be able to save you in time."

There were safety mechanisms for battles between Inner Sect Disciples and the puppets; the Elder wouldn’t just let a puppet kill a disciple.

But if a disciple stubbornly refused to concede, they would have died in vain.

"Yes, Elder."

Zhang Su nodded, then turned and stepped into the Martial Arts Arena.

Following that, ten puppets at the Early Stage of Outer Force were released.

This wasn’t Zhang Su’s first time fighting puppets.

He had fought against three puppets during his promotion to the Inner Sect.

This time, however, there were ten puppets.

With a different number came a different level of threat.

Of course, the Zhang Su of today was a far cry from his former self.

Not only was his Inner Strength more immense, but he had also finally cultivated Martial Techniques at the Inner Strength Level—and more than one, at that.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH.

The moment they were released, the ten puppets lunged fiercely at Zhang Su.

They didn’t fight independently but followed some kind of coordinated method, working together in perfect harmony.

Zhang Su felt like he was surrounded; everywhere he looked, there were puppets.

The pressure increased dramatically!

However, in Zhang Su’s eyes, these puppets had one fatal flaw.

They were slow!

Far too slow!

Perhaps their speed and Body Technique were already quite fast, but Zhang Su had always practiced the Fast Sword.

In his eyes, the puppets’ speed wasn’t even worth his notice.

And so, Zhang Su drew his sword.

CLANG.

Zhang Su didn’t deliberately use any particular type of Swordsmanship.

He simply followed his instincts and drew his blade.

Instantly, the light of his sword flashed.

The air filled with countless sword shadows. It was impossible to tell how many there were, nor which was real and which was an illusion.

Perhaps every shadow was real.

Or perhaps every shadow was false.

However, when the sword shadows vanished and everyone focused their eyes,

each puppet had a massive gash on its body.

CRACK.

Instantly, the puppets shattered, their fragments scattering across the ground.

All ten puppets were destroyed.

Many people were dumbfounded.

Defeating ten puppets was nothing special.

There were plenty of One-Star Disciples in the Inner Sect who could defeat ten puppets.

But Zhang Su seemed to have used only a single sword strike.

He had annihilated ten puppets with just one move.

This was truly shocking!

"Incredible!"

"He insta-killed ten puppets with one strike! What Swordsmanship did he use? I couldn’t even see it clearly..."

"It looked like the Nine Shadows Sword Technique. But that’s just a Qi Blood Realm Sword Skill, and it only has nine sword shadows. He produced at least dozens, and they were a mix of real and illusory—it’s not the same."

"Why do I feel like the Swordsmanship Zhang Su used contained traces of many different techniques, but it didn’t look like any single one..."

Many Inner Sect Disciples were both shocked and bewildered.

How could so many of them be unable to identify which Swordsmanship Zhang Su had used?

This was truly bizarre.

Even if Zhang Su had used an Unparalleled Swordsmanship at the Inner Strength Level, they would have been able to recognize it.

But now, they didn’t recognize it at all?

The same was true for Ye Shuang.

She only felt that Zhang Su’s strike was incredibly powerful.

But she, too, couldn’t identify which specific Swordsmanship it was.

Forget the disciples; even the Inner Sect Elder was secretly astounded.

He just didn’t let it show on his face.

’This isn’t one Swordsmanship from Zhang Su, but many. The key is that he has completely mastered and can effortlessly use both Qi Blood Realm and Inner Strength Level techniques... This strike wasn’t one Swordsmanship so much as it was dozens of them combined!’

The Inner Sect Elder’s insight was indeed far greater than that of the disciples.

But that raised a question: how could Zhang Su fuse dozens of Swordsmanship styles into one?

’Even we Postnatal Realm Martial Artists can’t do that!’

Although the Inner Sect Elder was shocked, he still announced, "Zhang Su has defeated ten Same Realm Puppets. From this moment on, he is ranked as a ’One-Star Disciple’!"

Zhang Su becoming a "One-Star Disciple" was, at least, within expectations.

"Alright, Zhang Su, your evaluation is over. It’s time for the next person..."

The Inner Sect Elder was already preparing to call up the next disciple for their ranking.

But then, Zhang Su suddenly spoke up, "Elder, this disciple requests a ’Two-Star’ ranking evaluation!"

The moment he said this, not only was the Elder taken aback, but every Inner Sect Disciple present was completely stunned.