Unrestricted Dao Lord

Zhang Su’s tone was calm.

But the meaning behind his words was chilling.

A moment ago, the surroundings had been filled with clamor.

But now, everything had fallen silent.

All eyes were on Zhang Su and Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng’s expression shifted uncertainly.

After a long moment, Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and said gravely, "In a spar, blades have no eyes. Injuries are inevitable! Brother Zhang, you may fight without holding back. Don’t worry about me."

"Good. As you wish..."

Zhang Su nodded.

SHING.

Zhang Su drew his sword.

At the same instant, Jiang Cheng drew his as well.

Both men drew their weapons without any warning.

Those standing close to them jumped back in fright.

"Why is it so hot?"

"The weather wasn’t this hot a moment ago."

"It’s not the weather. It’s their Qi Blood. They must have both broken through the limits of the human body. Their Qi Blood is burning like a furnace..."

There were many Martial Artists present.

Including some of the Su Family’s guards.

They recognized it at a glance—the phenomenon caused when Zhang Su and Jiang Cheng unleashed their Qi Blood at full power.

’Qi Blood like a furnace... for two people so young. It’s incredible...’

Fang Qiao stood among the people from the Third Branch.

His face was filled with envy.

Only by breaking through the body’s limits and stimulating one’s Qi Blood could a person achieve such a state.

In the Jianghu, any Martial Artist whose Qi Blood burned like a furnace was guaranteed to be a renowned expert in their region, with a high chance of eventually developing Inner Strength and becoming an Inner Strength Martial Artist.

When Zhang Su had drawn his sword and sliced off a lock of Su Mulan’s hair in the meeting hall, Fang Qiao had sensed there was something extraordinary about him.

Now, it seemed his suspicions were correct.

Zhang Su had truly broken through the limits of the human body.

However, Jiang Cheng was no less impressive.

The Qi Blood of both men seemed to be about the same.

Both were between one hundred fifty and two hundred threads.

But compared to their Qi Blood, their Swordsmanship was worlds apart.

Jiang Cheng’s Swordsmanship was his family’s heirloom technique.

It was a truly top-tier Swordsmanship called "River Flow."

When unleashed, it was like a torrential river, continuous and unending, with an astonishing momentum.

Zhang Su’s Swordsmanship, however, had no such flourish.

It seemed to be just a simple Thrusting Sword technique.

But to Jiang Cheng, that one thrust held an immense terror.

SCHLICK.

The cold edge of the blade slid across his neck.

An immense, uncontrollable fear surged through Jiang Cheng’s heart.

There is great terror in the space between life and death.

And Jiang Cheng was now experiencing it firsthand.

His entire body went rigid.

His magnificent Swordsmanship, which had flowed like a ceaseless river, came to a halt.

CLICK.

Zhang Su sheathed his sword.

His expression remained as calm and unconcerned as ever.

Jiang Cheng reached up and touched the bloody line on his neck.

There was only a trace of blood.

But his hand began to tremble uncontrollably.

He knew very well that if the cut had been any deeper, he would be dead.

It wasn’t because he was lucky.

It was because Zhang Su had shown mercy!

"What Swordsmanship is that?"

Jiang Cheng asked.

"This Swordsmanship is called the Light and Shadow Killing Sword."

"You’re very lucky. Today is my older brother’s joyous occasion. My sword may draw blood, but it will not kill."

Jiang Cheng understood.

A huge sense of defeat washed over him.

Among the younger generation of Martial Artists in Qingquan Prefecture, he had never met his match, never known defeat.

But now, he had lost, and he accepted his defeat completely.

After all, he still hadn’t clearly seen Zhang Su’s strike. How had it managed to slice across his neck?

If it could break the skin on his neck, it could have killed him.

And Zhang Su had truly done it in a single strike!

"Brother Zhang, you are truly worthy of being a Major Sect Disciple. Your Swordsmanship is superb, and your reputation is well-deserved. I have lost..."

Jiang Cheng bowed deeply to Zhang Su.

He had always been a proud man.

But now, he accepted his defeat without any reservations.

He didn’t feel any sense of humiliation.

Because Jiang Cheng understood that even if he trained for another ten years, he still wouldn’t be able to block that strike.

Perhaps only after developing Inner Strength and becoming an Inner Strength Martial Artist could he hope to withstand it.

As Jiang Cheng personally admitted defeat, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

Many people were still stunned.

They had been expecting a spectacular battle between titans.

But... it was already over?

They hadn’t even seen what happened.

They only sensed Zhang Su draw his sword, and then a blur before their eyes.

And then, Jiang Cheng had surrendered.

However, the bloody mark on Jiang Cheng’s neck was impossible to miss.

’What a powerful strike... Even I couldn’t see it clearly. If it were me...’

Fang Qiao was secretly horrified.

Yesterday, he had failed to block Zhang Su’s sword strike.

Now it was clear that it hadn’t been a fluke.

Even he probably couldn’t have blocked that attack.

"A Major Sect Disciple... so this is what a true Major Sect Disciple is like!"

"The Jiang Family may be a renowned Martial Arts Family in Qingquan Prefecture, but their Martial Arts still can’t compare to those of the Guiyuan Sect."

"I heard Zhang Su has only been in the Guiyuan Sect for a year? Incredible! Even Jiang Cheng couldn’t withstand a single strike from him..."

"And it seems this Zhang Su isn’t married yet..."

The eyes of some quick-witted people lit up, ideas immediately forming in their minds.

’Zhang Su... he clearly has a boundless future!’

"Brother Zhang, farewell."

With that, Jiang Cheng turned and left.

He was too proud to have the face to remain here any longer.

Just then, Su Mulan seemed to snap out of her daze.

"Brother Cheng..."

she cried out.

But Jiang Cheng didn’t pause for a moment and walked straight out of the Su Family estate.

Su Mulan watched Jiang Cheng’s departing figure, then turned to look at the cold, indifferent face of Zhang Su.

Especially when Zhang Su’s icy gaze swept over her.

A shiver ran down her spine.

’How could this happen...’

’Brother Cheng is from a Martial Arts Family, undefeated among the younger generation of Qingquan Prefecture... how could he have lost...’

Su Mulan could never have imagined that Jiang Cheng, whom she considered invincible, would actually be defeated by Zhang Su.

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would have never believed it.

But it was the truth!

Even Su Qianhe couldn’t help but tremble.

He immediately pulled Su Mulan in front of Su Zhenzhen.

"Sister Zhen, we were wrong. From now on, the main branch will continue to manage the Su Family business. The Third Branch will not interfere!"

Su Zhenzhen sneered, "Not enough!"

Su Qianhe glanced at Su Mulan, then gritted his teeth and said, "Men, escort the Second Miss back! From now on, she is not to take a single step out of her courtyard without my command! Not until her wedding day..."

Immediately, two burly maids stepped forward and began dragging Su Mulan toward the Third Branch’s courtyard.

"No, Big Brother, how could you do this? Sister Zhen, spare me..."

Su Mulan cried out loudly.

But no one pleaded for her.

Everyone knew that from this day forward, Su Mulan was under house arrest.

The once high-spirited Second Miss of the Third Branch would now be confined to her small courtyard, unable to leave.

It was equivalent to being locked up until she married into the Jiang Family.

Su Qianhe was quite decisive.

He could even be ruthless to his own sister.

Su Zhenzhen was about to speak, but Zhang Chen took her hand and said softly, "Alright, let’s leave it at that. We’re all family, after all. Let’s not become a laughingstock for outsiders."

Hearing her husband’s words, Su Zhenzhen nodded.

"Fine, we’ll leave it at that. Qianhe, Su Mulan disturbed my second brother-in-law, so your Third Branch must offer compensation. Let’s say three thousand taels of silver. Any problem with that?"

Su Zhenzhen demanded a compensation of "three thousand taels of silver" right off the bat.

The demand made Su Qianhe wince.

But the circumstances were against him.

He knew the Third Branch had suffered a devastating loss this time.

"Fine. We’ll do as Sister Zhen says."

Su Qianhe agreed.

Zhang Su was a bit surprised.

’An unexpected windfall?’

At that, his gaze shifted to Su Zhenzhen.

He felt quite favorably toward this sister-in-law.

After all, it was Su Zhenzhen who had secured him three thousand taels of silver in compensation.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law."

"It’s nothing. We’re all family."

With the matter resolved, the banquet continued.

However, no one dared to overlook Zhang Su anymore.

Whispers and speculation began to spread through the crowd.

The Su Family’s live-in son-in-law, Zhang Chen, actually had such a powerful younger brother.

If Zhang Su could become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect in the future, Zhang Chen’s position in the Su Family would likely become even more secure, unshakable by anyone.

Even the entire Su Family would benefit.

That live-in son-in-law, Zhang Chen, was truly a lucky star!