Unrestricted Dao Lord

Chapter 307: Chapter 146: The Bursting Sword Form Reappears, One Strike Severs an Arm and Defeats Zhao Qi, Shaking the Five Elements Valley

And it was his right arm, no less.

The Upper Sect might have Treasure Medicines capable of Limb Regeneration.

But how precious were such Treasure Medicines?

Forget an Official Disciple like Zhao Qi; even a Direct Disciple would probably have a hard time obtaining one.

Even if they did, it would come at an unimaginable cost.

For Zhao Qi to obtain such a Treasure Medicine as a cripple was practically impossible.

This meant he had gone from an Official Disciple with a boundless future to a one-armed cripple.

All his years of hard work on Mixed Element Peak had come to nothing.

"Zhang Su!!!"

Zhao Qi’s shrill cry echoed throughout Five Elements Valley.

He glared at Zhang Su, his eyes bloodshot.

If looks could kill, Zhang Su would have already died a thousand deaths.

He never would have imagined that challenging a mere Gang Force Martial Artist would come at such a brutal cost.

"Blades have no eyes. Failing to pull back and injuring someone should be within the rules of Five Elements Valley, right?"

Zhang Su said coolly.

He had asked before: Was Zhao Qi prepared to pay the price?

Zhao Qi had scoffed at the idea.

And now, this arm was the price Zhao Qi had to pay.

Zhao Qi stared daggers at Zhang Su.

He wanted to say something, but not a single word would come out.

Could he claim that Zhang Su broke the rules?

The rules of Five Elements Valley stated that in a challenge, blades had no eyes, and injuries were unavoidable.

As long as it wasn’t intentional murder, the Upper Sect wouldn’t investigate.

Zhang Su’s sword strike had been aimed at his arm, not a vital point.

Everyone had seen this clearly.

Zhang Su hadn’t broken any rules.

The two had clashed head-on, a straightforward exchange of blows.

His own skills had been inferior.

He couldn’t blame anyone else.

Zhao Qi gritted his teeth, bent down, and picked up the bloody arm from the ground.

He cradled the severed limb in his arms, letting the blood drip onto the ground.

Zhao Qi said nothing more, turning to walk out of Five Elements Valley.

When he arrived, Zhao Qi had been full of vigor, the center of attention, surrounded by several fawning Named Disciples.

He had challenged Zhang Su merely out of a bit of curiosity and a hint of displeasure.

He’d thought he could crush Zhang Su with ease.

But now, he had lost an arm, fleeing Five Elements Valley like a pathetic stray.

None of the Named Disciples who had been swarming around him before stepped forward to help.

They stood in the distance, exchanging complicated glances.

This was reality.

When you’re on top, everyone flocks to you.

When you fall, no one cares.

After today, Zhao Qi would likely become the laughingstock of the entire Upper Sect Nine Peaks.

An Official Disciple, having his arm severed by a Named Disciple.

In that moment, his pride had been shattered by Zhang Su’s single strike.

At this moment, the spectators in Five Elements Valley all stared wide-eyed, as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

What had they just witnessed?

The battle had indeed been brutal.

But the one who suffered wasn’t Zhang Su.

It was the Official Disciple, Zhao Qi!

Who could have imagined that Zhao Qi would actually have an arm cut off by Zhang Su?

Crippled by Zhang Su, just like that?

It was... unbelievable!

A hush fell over Five Elements Valley, but the next moment, it erupted in an uproar.

"Zhang Su... won? Not only did he win, but he cut off one of Zhao Qi’s arms with a single strike. Zhao Qi is probably crippled for life..."

"It’s incredible. The Upper Sect Nine Peaks is full of geniuses. There are quite a few cases of Gang Force cultivators defeating those in the Postnatal Realm, but for one to defeat an Official Disciple—and an Official Disciple who once cultivated a First-Grade Gang Force at that—is a rare sight indeed."

"Zhang Su’s strike completely overwhelmed Zhao Qi head-on. A Gang Force disciple who can match an Official Disciple? It’s unbelievable."

"At this rate, if Zhang Su advances to the Postnatal Realm, could he really become a Direct Disciple? I can’t believe we’re witnessing history..."

Some disciples even sounded excited.

Many people stared at the blood on the ground, utterly shocked.

It wasn’t that they had never seen a Gang Force cultivator defeat someone in the Postnatal Realm. But those opponents were usually Postnatal Realm Named Disciples, whose Inner Strength quality was low and combat power was limited.

But Zhao Qi was different.

Zhao Qi was an Official Disciple who had advanced to the Postnatal Realm from a First-Grade Gang Force. He was one of the best among the Official Disciples of Mixed Element Peak.

And someone like that was crushed in a head-on clash by a Gang Force Martial Artist?

It completely overturned their understanding of the world.

Luo Feng was also in the crowd.

Before this, he had been hoping Zhang Su would just concede and not fight Zhao Qi at all.

But when he saw this scene, saw Zhang Su defeat Zhao Qi with such overwhelming ease, even severing his arm and turning him into a cripple from this day forward, Luo Feng’s heart was thrown into turmoil.

He had already held Zhang Su in high regard, even thinking he could become a Direct Disciple in the future.

But he never expected Zhang Su to be so dominant right now.

Zhang Su wasn’t even an Official Disciple yet; he was just a Named Disciple.

’If he’s this powerful with just his Gang Force Cultivation, able to defeat an Official Disciple with ease, just how strong will he be when he advances to the Postnatal Realm?’

’A Direct Disciple... it no longer seems like an impossible dream...’

Luo Feng stood rooted to the spot, trembling with excitement.

Before, he had only clung to a sliver of hope that Zhang Su might be able to pull it off.

But deep down, he hadn’t been very confident.

After all, the goal of becoming a Direct Disciple was simply too distant.

Among the tens of thousands of disciples in the Upper Sect Nine Peaks, those who became Direct Disciples were few and far between.

But now, he saw hope.

Real, tangible hope.

In the end, Zhao Qi left.

Clutching his severed arm, his stumbling figure disappeared at the entrance of Five Elements Valley, a desolate sight from behind.