Unrestricted Dao Lord

Zhang Su soon returned to courtyard "266."

Although he had suffered a minor "setback" on his trip to Bamboo Sword Peak, Zhang Su’s heart was as still as water, perfectly calm.

After all, he hadn’t held high hopes of becoming a disciple on Bamboo Sword Peak in the first place.

He was well aware of his own strengths.

He had gotten this far not by relying on the guidance of any "master."

’However, this trip to Bamboo Sword Peak wasn’t entirely without its gains...’

Zhang Su focused his mind and examined his panel.

Host: Zhang Su

Cultivation: Outer Force (Early Stage)

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

Compatibility Value: 3

A new entry, "Wind and Thunder Sword Technique," had appeared on his panel. This was Zhang Su’s greatest gain from the trip.

Although Zhang Su had already redeemed ten Martial Techniques from the Instructor Pavilion.

The best among those ten Martial Techniques was only a Superior Swordsmanship.

The Wind and Thunder Sword Technique, however, was a top-tier swordsmanship, immensely powerful.

Crucially, its Compatibility was very high, making it relatively easy for Zhang Su to cultivate it to the Perfection stage.

’The urgent priority right now isn’t finding a master, but cultivating some Martial Techniques to Perfection as quickly as possible to obtain more Compatibility Value...’

Zhang Su had long since formulated his own cultivation plan.

More than one, in fact.

But no matter the plan, Compatibility Value was always the most crucial element.

And so, Zhang Su became a recluse in his courtyard, focusing all his energy on cultivating his Martial Techniques.

Zhang Su was fully engrossed in cultivating his Martial Techniques, paying no mind to the affairs of the outside world.

But he had, after all, been promoted to the Inner Sect under the halo of being "Outer Sect First."

And quite a few people were keeping an eye on him.

Many Inner Sect Disciples had witnessed what happened at Bamboo Sword Peak.

Before long, news that he had been "rejected" by Bamboo Sword Peak gradually began to spread throughout the Inner Sect.

When Lu Tianqing heard the news, he found it surprising, yet it also seemed to make sense.

’Bamboo Sword Peak has always recruited geniuses from among the Inheritor Disciples. Although Zhang Su forged a Supreme Foundation, from their perspective, his potential is likely still limited...’

Lu Tianqing shook his head.

He just found it strange. Why would Zhang Su even think of going to Bamboo Sword Peak?

After all, Zhang Su wasn’t even a "One-Star Disciple" yet.

It was perfectly normal for Bamboo Sword Peak to look down on him.

Lu Tianqing had originally wanted to go and "console" Zhang Su, but after some thought, he realized Zhang Su was a proud person. The current Zhang Su would probably prefer to be left alone.

So, he didn’t go looking for him.

Besides, Lu Tianqing felt that he and Zhang Su were the same type of person—they wouldn’t be easily discouraged.

So what if he was rejected by Bamboo Sword Peak?

Gold will always shine.

Lu Tianqing believed that someone like Zhang Su, who had achieved the Second Limit Breaking, would have a future that was anything but ordinary!

Even in the Inner Sect, Zhang Su would surely shine with dazzling brilliance!

...

Wei Yunzhou was well-informed within the Inner Sect.

He received the news of Zhang Su being "rejected" by Bamboo Sword Peak almost immediately.

"Hahaha, Zhang Su, a mere Dharma Protector Disciple, thinks he’s worthy of entering Bamboo Sword Peak?"

Wei Yunzhou roared with laughter, feeling immensely satisfied.

For some time now, he had been feeling quite resentful.

He, a dignified "Three-Star Disciple" of the Inner Sect’s Inheritance Sequence, had repeatedly hit a wall when dealing with a mere overage disciple from the Outer Sect?

In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Zhang Su was promoted to the Inner Sect.

Therefore, his mind had never been at ease.

Now, hearing that Zhang Su had "suffered a defeat," he was naturally delighted.

Lu Quan also said with a smile, "Even if Zhang Su is the ’Outer Sect First,’ Bamboo Sword Peak is one of the top five Martial Veins in the Sect. It almost exclusively recruits disciples from the Inheritance Sequence, and even then, they must be at least Two-Star Disciples. Only a ’Three-Star Disciple’ like you, Senior Brother, is worthy of entering Bamboo Sword Peak. Zhang Su trying to get in was just asking for humiliation."

These words were very pleasing to Wei Yunzhou’s ears.

Although he knew Lu Quan was just flattering him, the words did indeed strike a chord.

"Zhang Su... is a problem, after all. Since we’ve already made an enemy of him, we need to deal with him as soon as possible. Lu Quan, do you have any ideas?"

Wei Yunzhou asked.

"This..."

Lu Quan’s eyes darted away before he cautiously suggested, "How about... the old method? Have some Inner Sect Disciples issue a written challenge to Zhang Su?"

Wei Yunzhou shook his head. "Zhang Su isn’t that stupid; he won’t easily accept a challenge. Besides, even if he did, we can’t use lethal force unless it’s on the Life and Death Arena. Defeating him without killing him is meaningless."

Lu Quan thought for a moment, then added, "Actually, if you, Senior Brother, were to personally issue the challenge, Zhang Su might just accept. Even if he doesn’t, you could use other methods to force him to fight..."

Wei Yunzhou’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Him, personally entering the fray?

This method seemed sound, but it had its hidden dangers.

He was already at the Late Stage of Inner Force, only a step away from the Huajin realm.

In theory, his strength was certainly far greater than Zhang Su’s.

But what if?

On the Life and Death Arena, anything could happen.

If something unexpected happened, it would be too late for regrets.

Wei Yunzhou had seen plenty of cases where a mighty ship capsized in a filthy gutter.

Moreover, he abided by the principle: "A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall."

He wouldn’t do anything that carried even the slightest risk.

After all, he was a Three-Star Disciple with a boundless future. There was a high probability he would become a Postnatal Realm expert in the future, and there was even a sliver of hope he could reach the Innate Realm.

For him to personally fight a life-and-death battle with Zhang Su was simply not worth it!

And yet, Zhang Su’s very existence was like a fishbone stuck in Wei Yunzhou’s throat; he wouldn’t be content until he was removed!

He couldn’t allow Zhang Su to slowly "grow" to a point where he could become a threat.

Therefore, he had to cut the Gordian knot and eliminate Zhang Su directly!

"Is there a way to make Zhang Su leave the mountain?"

Wei Yunzhou said coolly.

Lu Quan’s heart jolted.

He understood the meaning behind Wei Yunzhou’s words.

Within the Guiyuan Sect, Zhang Su was ultimately an Inner Sect disciple, and there were many constraints on trying to eliminate him.

But once he left the mountain, left the Sect, it would be a different story.

There were many ways to make sure Zhang Su died at the foot of the mountain.

"Senior Brother Wei, I heard Zhang Su has an older brother and a younger sister. His brother is even a live-in son-in-law of the Su Family. If the Su Family were to run into some major trouble, Zhang Su would probably have no choice but to leave the mountain..."

Lu Quan’s words made Wei Yunzhou’s eyes light up.

That was right. Zhang Su still had family and ties to the Su Family.

The feud between him and Zhang Su, when it came down to it, wasn’t it rooted in the conflict between the Wei Family and the Su Family?

"This matter cannot be delayed. I’ll write a letter. You are to go down the mountain to the Wei Family estate and make sure to deliver it personally into my father’s hands..."

Wei Yunzhou immediately wrote a letter and handed it to Lu Quan.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother. I will personally deliver it to Master Wei."

With that, Lu Quan turned and left.

"Zhang Su... as long as you leave the mountain, I have a hundred ways to kill you!"

Wei Yunzhou’s killing intent toward Zhang Su was intense.

When Zhang Su was in the Outer Sect, he had actually taken him seriously enough to immediately have the second-ranked Outer Sect disciple, Bai Junze, make a move.

But unexpectedly, he had failed to kill Zhang Su.

In fact, in just a short period, Zhang Su had even been promoted to the Inner Sect.

The speed was so fast it alarmed him.

Although Wei Yunzhou paid lip service to the idea that Zhang Su was just a worthless Dharma Protector Disciple, not worth mentioning.

In reality, he already felt a trace of a threat from him.

For this reason, he had to do everything in his power to eliminate Zhang Su completely!

...

At the waterfall on the back mountain of Bamboo Sword Peak, the atmosphere was tense to the extreme.

Yu Jingjing never would have imagined that a mere Dharma Protector Disciple like Zhang Su could actually cause Elder Zhao to personally come to Bamboo Sword Peak to "demand an explanation."

"Old Ghost Qu, I’m asking you, why did you reject Zhang Su?"

Elder Zhao demanded sharply.

Qu Zhengliu replied coolly, "Old Ghost Zhao, Zhang Su’s foundation and comprehension are acceptable, but his Root Bone is too poor—it’s only a Low-Grade Root Bone. The glory Bamboo Sword Peak enjoys today is the result of generations of masters’ hard work. How could I break the rules of Bamboo Sword Peak for my own selfish reasons?"

Hearing this reason, Elder Zhao laughed in anger.

"Good, very good! You’re so noble, so righteous! Elder Qu, you rule Bamboo Sword Peak with such selflessness. But tell me, who was it back then who had an insufficient foundation, yet entered Bamboo Sword Peak because of his ancestors’ legacy? And now you look down on a disciple with a profound foundation and excellent comprehension?"

Upon hearing this, Qu Zhengliu’s expression changed slightly, and anger flared in his heart.

This incident from the past was his "reverse scale"; he didn’t want anyone to ever bring it up!

"Zhao Qianfeng, you’ve gone too far! Don’t think that just because we had a friendship in the past, you can make this old man break the rules of Bamboo Sword Peak. Besides, you are also a Postnatal Realm Martial Artist. Since you think so highly of Zhang Su, why don’t you take him as your own disciple?"

At these words, Elder Zhao fell silent.

His eyes were filled with disappointment.

"A friendship in the past... Yes, decades have passed. Our friendship truly only exists in the past now... Your Bamboo Sword Peak is more prosperous than ever. It seems this old man was aiming too high! Farewell."

Elder Zhao turned and walked away.

Qu Zhengliu knew that with Zhao Qianfeng’s departure, their decades-long friendship was over.

However, he did not call out to stop him.

He knew very well that Zhao Qianfeng was a loner in the Guiyuan Sect. When he saw a disciple with a bit of talent, he naturally cherished that talent.

But he was the master of Bamboo Sword Peak and represented the entire peak.

He didn’t know how many pairs of eyes were watching him from behind the scenes.

Zhang Su certainly had some talent.

But a Low-Grade Root Bone meant he was destined never to become a great talent.

Breaking the rules of Bamboo Sword Peak for a Zhang Su who was destined for mediocrity was not worth it!