Overlord of the Wilderness

Watching Zhaang Yun leave, Zhaang Ye came to a realization. ’No wonder that even though the Zhaang Family has many young members, only Zhaang Fang and Zhaang Shu are the true contenders for the next Patriarch. Among the strongest of the younger generation, Zhaang Que is powerful, but he acts like a lone wolf—he’s clearly unfit to be the Patriarch. Zhaang Qing is arrogant and aloof, so he’s obviously not a good candidate either. And as for Zhaang Yun, he’s too narrow-minded, a bit too old, and his potential is mediocre. He’s not Patriarch material at all...’

As he was lost in thought, an arrogant-looking youth leaped onto the Martial Arts Arena. It was Zhaang Qing, the same person Zhaang Ye had encountered two days ago.

Zhaang Qing’s opponent was a youth at the Peak of Martial Arts Second Layer. Although the youth was weaker than Zhaang Qing, the Sharp Sword in his hand glinted with a cold light, and was clearly no ordinary weapon. He also wore a piece of black Light Armor, made from some unknown material, which also appeared to be quite valuable.

At the Grand Elder’s signal to begin, the two immediately clashed. Zhaang Qing used a vicious Palm Technique. His first palm strike dismantled his opponent’s attack, his second whistled through the air and shattered his defense, and his third, in a flash, landed squarely on the youth’s body.

”Ah—!” the audience cried out in alarm.

Zhaang Qing’s Palm Force was immense; a single strike could shatter stone. Everyone worried that such a ferocious blow would tear the youth to pieces.

THUD! A dull sound came from the youth’s body as he took Zhaang Qing’s palm strike. But to everyone’s surprise, he withstood the blow and was completely unharmed. He merely took two steps back before launching another attack as if nothing had happened.

”Huh? What just happened?” the surprised audience members asked those around them.

Zhaang Ye was very perceptive and saw the reason at a glance. The key was the Black Armor the youth was wearing. This Black Armor clearly had impressive Defense Power, enough to completely neutralize Zhaang Qing’s immensely powerful palm strike.

SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!

Seeing that his Black Armor could block Zhaang Qing’s Palm Power, the youth was overjoyed and attacked without reservation. He executed a rather complex Swordsmanship, and for a moment, the Martial Arts Arena was filled with crisscrossing Sword Light. Even Zhaang Qing seemed to be pushed onto the defensive.

Just then, Zhaang Qing snorted. ”Brat, don’t think you’re untouchable just because you’re wearing Python Armor. Face my Overlapping Waves Force!”

As he spoke, Zhaang Qing retreated slightly to dodge the youth’s attack. Then, shifting his palms and channeling his True Qi, he instantly produced a sound like waves crashing against the shore!

Zhaang Qing was using a Palm Technique he specialized in—the Low-Level Combat Skill, Overlapping Waves Palm! When executed, its True Power rolled forward like ocean waves, one after another, possessing immense Attack Power.

SWISH! SWISH! The youth slashed twice, shattering two waves of Palm Power. But Zhaang Qing had already cultivated his Overlapping Waves Palm to the Great Success Realm, and his Palm Power was incredibly condensed. The youth managed to deal with two waves, but he was completely unable to stop the third. With a sound like a crashing wave, Zhaang Qing’s palm struck him squarely in the chest. The force of the Overlapping Waves Palm pierced through his body, sending him flying off the Martial Arts Arena.

’Overlapping Waves Palm...’ Zhaang Ye mused as he watched Zhaang Qing’s technique. ’That Palm Technique must be his ace in the hole. I just wonder how many palms he can unleash in a row?’

Zhaang Qing’s fight was the second match. The third match was next, and it was Zhaang Ye’s turn.

Zhaang Yun was already waiting. Seeing Zhaang Ye step onto the stage, he cackled and said, ”Zhaang Ye, you knocked my brother off the Martial Arts Arena two days ago. Today, I’m going to do the same to you! I’ll beat you until you’re on your knees begging for mercy!”

The Martial Arts Arena was a place for battle, where strength earned respect and true skill was proven in combat. Zhaang Ye couldn’t be bothered to respond to such empty threats. He simply narrowed his eyes and waited for the Grand Elder to signal the start.

”Begin!”

At the Grand Elder’s shout, Zhaang Yun immediately attacked. He took two steps forward, his hand swelling to the size of a millstone as he swung a palm strike at Zhaang Ye’s head.

Zhaang Ye could have used a Body Technique to dodge the strike and then wait for an opening to counterattack. He could also have drawn his Purple Copper Thick-Backed Saber to meet the attack head-on. However, Zhaang Ye had recently consumed a series of Body Tempering Pills and Body Refining Pills. Although he had been constantly circulating his energy to absorb them, a significant amount of Medicinal Power had still accumulated in his body. Seeing the palm strike coming, an idea flashed through Zhaang Ye’s mind: he would use Zhaang Yun’s Palm Power to refine the lingering Medicinal Power from the elixirs within him!

With this in mind, Zhaang Ye didn’t even try to dodge. He threw both hands up, meeting Zhaang Yun’s palm directly with the ”Iron Bridge Stopping River Formation” stance.

BAM!

As the defender, Zhaang Ye was knocked back one step. But Zhaang Yun, the attacker, was unexpectedly forced back a step as well.

”What a perfect Iron Bridge Stopping River Formation!”

Seeing Zhaang Ye execute the Iron Bridge Stopping River Formation, the eyes of the Elders on the viewing platform lit up. In Zhaang Ye’s hands, the technique had reached the Great Success Realm, embodying the principle of being ”as heavy as a mountain, as solid as iron, standing firm and unmoving against a raging storm.” Even the Elders themselves could not have performed the move any better.

In an age where martial arts practice had grown impetuous, the fact that Zhaang Ye had quietly practiced this single technique to the Great Success Stage brought a sense of quiet satisfaction to the Elders. Even the Patriarch, Zhaang Chengtian, who had been sitting so still he seemed too lazy to even open his eyes, gave a slight nod of approval.