Overlord of the Wilderness

After carefully plucking the Jade Red Grass, Zhaang Ye was heading down the hill when he suddenly heard two loud THWACKS. He quickly looked over and saw the Mammoth displaying its awesome power. With a single lash of its long trunk, it sent two Martial Artists of the Martial Arts Third Layer flying through the air. Every bone in their bodies shattered, killing them instantly.

Zhaang Ye gasped. ’This thing can kill someone at the Late-stage Martial Arts Third Layer with a single strike. It’s practically invincible!’

Holding the Jade Red Grass, Zhaang Ye walked closer. Considering the massive effort the Mammoth had put in, he offered it two of the three stalks.

The Mammoth didn’t hesitate. It curled its long trunk, took the two stalks of Jade Red Grass, then pointed toward the corpses strewn across the ground before dashing away in a flash.

Zhaang Ye knew the Mammoth was leaving the bodies for him. He didn’t stand on ceremony either and began searching them one by one.

Several conflicts had clearly taken place around the small hill, and there were dozens of dead. Among them were many experts of the Martial Arts Third Layer. As Zhaang Ye searched them, he quickly found quite a few good things.

First were the Elixirs. Zhaang Ye found over forty Qi Gathering Pills, enough to sustain his Cultivation for several months. Besides the Qi Gathering Pills, he also found more than twenty Body Tempering Pills. Zhaang Ye had to use two whole vials to store them all.

In addition to the Elixirs, Zhaang Ye also discovered dozens of Golden Tickets. Their total value was likely no less than 100,000 taels—a massive windfall.

Furthermore, Zhaang Ye found several Martial Arts Secret Manuals. Worried that someone might arrive, he had no time to examine them closely. He hastily packed them away and left at once.

’I’ve hit the jackpot! A huge jackpot! These Qi Gathering Pills alone will be enough for me to cultivate smoothly to the Martial Arts Fourth Layer!’ Even with his calm personality, Zhaang Ye couldn’t help but feel ecstatic after scoring such a massive windfall.

After securing his haul, Zhaang Ye had walked for several miles when he suddenly heard a long whistle from behind him. Hearing it, he was secretly alarmed. ’Good thing I left quickly! The person who made that sound has unfathomable strength. If he’d run into me while I was looting the bodies, the consequences would have been unimaginable!’

Hurrying back to the valley, Zhaang Ye immediately consumed the Jade Red Grass.

Zhaang Ye had recently faced one strong enemy after another, making him realize just how many experts there were in the world and intensifying his desire for strength. He consumed the Jade Red Grass, preparing to use its medicinal power to complete the final stage of his Body Tempering and raise his Cultivation to the Martial Arts Third Layer.

The Jade Red Grass melted the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into a hot current that flowed directly into his body. An unprecedented, agonizing pain instantly assaulted him, spreading throughout his entire being.

Instead of being alarmed, Zhaang Ye was delighted. He knew this was the prelude to the Jade Red Grass’s medicinal power Washing the Marrow.

The excruciating pain throughout his body intensified, yet at the same time, his senses were heightened to their absolute limit. The faintest breeze felt agonizing; the slightest lift of a finger brought a heart-rending, soul-tearing sensation.

Zhaang Ye endured the excruciating pain, circulating the True Qi in his body again and again, using the medicinal power of the Jade Red Grass to cleanse his body.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhaang Ye suddenly felt a soft *CRACK* from within his body, as if some barrier had been broken. Following that sound, the heart-rending pain vanished instantly. True Qi flowed briskly throughout his body, bringing an indescribable feeling of comfort.

Zhaang Ye ceased his cultivation and stood up. He struck out with his palm toward a stone five feet away, and the force from his palm sent it flying.

”Haha! My aptitude may be poor, but I, Zhaang Ye, have finally cultivated to the Third Layer of Martial Arts and reached the realm of True Qi Detachment!” Confirming that he had reached the Martial Arts Third Layer, Zhaang Ye was overjoyed.

Within the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, the First Layer is True Qi Entering the Body, the Second Layer is True Qi Body Refining, and the Third Layer is True Qi Detachment. After a Martial Artist cultivates to the Third Layer, their True Qi can be projected out of their body. Their strength takes a huge leap, making them much more powerful than someone at the Martial Arts Second Layer.

The Martial Arts Third Layer is a major bottleneck; many Martial Artists can never reach the Third Layer in their entire lives. For Zhaang Ye, with his mediocre aptitude, to reach the Third Layer of Martial Arts at the age of thirteen was nothing short of a small miracle.

Drawing his personal Thick-Backed Saber, Zhaang Ye executed several slashes. SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! It was the same Gentle Wind Slash, but now that he was at the Martial Arts Third Layer, his True Qi could leave his body. Propelled by his True Power, a three-inch-long sliver of Sword Qi emerged from the Blade Tip of his Thick-Backed Saber.

’Let’s see the power of this Sword Qi!’ Zhaang Ye thought. With a flick of his wrist, he brought the Thick-Backed Saber down on a stone. He felt a lightness in his hand as the sliver of Sword Qi instantly split the rock in two.

’So powerful!’ Zhaang Ye was thrilled, but a moment later, he felt a sense of relief from a past stroke of luck. ’I’ve killed a few Martial Arts Third Layer experts before and thought that was all there was to it. Thinking back now, if they had been more careful and taken me seriously, I never would have been able to kill them. From now on, I must be extremely cautious with my enemies and never underestimate anyone.’

Now that his strength had reached the Martial Arts Third Layer, Zhaang Ye tried practicing the Startled Swan Step. He found that the technique, which was already at the Minor Achievement Realm, had indeed improved again. His movements were like a startled swan skimming across water. He believed that with a bit more practice, his Startled Swan Step could reach the Great Success Realm.

”GROK.”

One day, as Zhaang Ye was practicing his Startled Swan Step and Saber Technique, he heard a distant RUMBLE. A moment later, the Mammoth appeared, making its way into the valley from outside.

Seeing Zhaang Ye practicing with the Thick-Backed Saber in hand, the Mammoth let out an excited cry. It raised its head and, with a thunderous RUMBLE, charged straight at him.

After eating the two stalks of Jade Red Grass, the Mammoth’s strength had increased once again. Its body had grown slightly larger, and its fur had taken on a faint golden hue. Normally, its fur hung down softly, but when it attacked, every strand stood on end, making it look incredibly fierce.

Zhaang Ye’s power had reached the Third Level of Qi Refining. His strength had soared, and he was full of confidence, initially thinking he might spar with the Mammoth. But when the beast was still several yards away, he felt a powerful gust of wind blast his face. He jumped in fright, realizing he was no match for this creature. With a SWISH, he retreated, leaping onto a cliff in a few quick bounds.

”GROK GROK GROK GROK GROK—” Seeing Zhaang Ye refuse to fight, a look of disdain actually appeared in the Mammoth’s eyes. It pointed its long trunk at Zhaang Ye and stomped around on the ground, clearly unhappy.

”Ahem.” Being looked down upon by a beast, even someone as thick-skinned as Zhaang Ye felt a little embarrassed. But he quickly found an excuse for himself, saying, ”Ahem, listen, big guy, we’re on the same side. We can’t be fighting each other like this. If you have the time, why don’t you go find some more Spirit Elixirs? Then we can go defeat our enemies together. That way, we get to fight, we get Spirit Elixirs to eat, and we can rapidly increase our strength. Now *that’s* the proper way to do things!”

The Mammoth tilted its head and thought for a moment, then let out a happy ”GROK” at Zhaang Ye. It seemed to agree with his words. Then, it turned around and shot out of the valley as if taking flight.

After coaxing the Mammoth away, Zhaang Ye dropped back to the ground and sheathed his Thick-Backed Saber. He was just about to practice his Startled Swan Step when he suddenly saw a massive firework explode in the sky, dozens of miles away. Seeing the giant firework, Zhaang Ye’s expression flickered. ’The family’s summoning signal? Right, the family’s grand competition, held once every five years, is almost here!’

Every five years, the Zhaang Family organized a massive competition for the younger generation. The winners would receive all sorts of rewards from the family and could even earn a chance to enter the main branch. Conversely, the losers would find it hard to hold their heads high and might even be sent away to manage family businesses, their connection to the Martial Dao severed for life.

The details of the grand competition flashed through Zhaang Ye’s mind. He gazed into the distance and thought, ’The competition is about to begin. It looks like it’s time for me to go back!’