Overlord of the Wilderness

The next day, Zhaang Ye, carrying a change of clothes and some personal belongings, traveled with Zhaang Que and Zhaang Qing to a small market over a hundred li from Three Rivers Town. It was a gathering point established by the Cyan Mulberry Zhaang Family.

Before departing, Zhaang Ye had someone deliver four Qi Gathering Pills to his mother. It was a final token of his care for her before he left. From this point on, Zhaang Ye would devote himself entirely to the Martial Dao, and he feared he would rarely, if ever, have the chance to return.

The Desolate Continent was vast and boundless, home to a multitude of nations and powerful factions. These factions, in turn, were built upon individual families. The Cyan Mulberry Zhaang Family was one such minor family.

The Cyan Mulberry Zhaang Family not only held significant influence within Cyan Mulberry City but also had over thirty branches scattered across the surrounding thousand-li radius. These branches were all established by members of the main family. The Zhaang Family in Three Rivers Town, for instance, was just one of its very ordinary branches.

When Zhaang Ye and his companions arrived at the small market, they discovered that only a few people had made it to the gathering point. Each of them found a stone bench, sat down, and began to meditate while they waited.

Over an hour later, the crowd began to swell. Most of these youths, who had distinguished themselves among the various branches, were at the Early Stage of Martial Arts Third Layer. Only two or three had a cultivation still at the Peak of Martial Arts Second Layer. The majority were around fifteen or sixteen, though a few were as young as fourteen.

Anyone capable of reaching such a cultivation level at this age was bound to be proud. As they arrived, not a single person bothered to greet anyone else. Each simply found a spot, sat down cross-legged, and waited in silence.

Over the next while, another dozen or so groups trickled in, bringing the total number to over a hundred. With so many people, there were no longer enough stone benches to go around, and a dozen or so latecomers were forced to stand.

Zhaang Ye kept a close watch on everyone at the gathering point. He noticed a thirteen-year-old youth in white with an arrogant demeanor and a powerful aura. ’That must be the number one young expert Zhaang Qing mentioned, Zhaang Yuhu,’ he thought. Then there was the tall, dark-skinned youth holding a thick steel staff, radiating a vicious aura. He was likely Zhaang Dahong from Giant Stone Town.

However, Zhaang Ye still hadn’t seen Zhaang Yang, the one ranked third among the young experts. He guessed the boy had yet to arrive.

Just as the sun was about to set, another group of three arrived. Leading them was a youth of about thirteen, clad in leather armor. What was most striking was that, despite his young age, he had a full head of white hair, giving him a rather eerie appearance.

Zhaang Ye observed the newcomer’s footwork. His stance was as steady as a mountain, yet he moved with the grace of the wind. ’His foundation is incredibly deep,’ Zhaang Ye mused. ’This must be the third-ranked Zhaang Yang, the one known for his Falling Leaves Leg.’

The white-haired youth’s gaze swept across the gathering point, and his brow furrowed when he saw that all the stone benches were taken. A sturdy youth beside him also scanned the area, his eyes finally landing on Zhaang Ye.

Although everyone here was a youth, there was still a clear age difference among them. At only thirteen, Zhaang Ye stood out in the crowd of fifteen and sixteen-year-olds.

The sturdy youth strode up to Zhaang Ye and said in a gruff voice, ”Kid, get up! We’re taking this bench.”

Zhaang Ye frowned slightly. ’He’s picking on me because he sees I’m young and thinks I’m an easy target.’ Slowly opening his eyes, Zhaang Ye said coolly, ”I was sitting here first. Why should I give it to you?”

It was Zhaang Ye’s first time traveling so far from home. While he didn’t want to cause trouble, he wasn’t afraid now that it had found him. In the Barbaric World, strength was everything, and fists did the talking. Backing down was not an option; others wouldn’t be grateful, they would only mock him. The onlookers, too, would look down on him with contempt.

”Why?” The sturdy youth’s brutish face twisted into a smirk as he raised his fist. ”On account of this!” he sneered. ”Kid, my fist is thicker than your thigh. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll have to let you have a taste of it.”

This sturdy youth was at the Early Stage of Martial Arts Third Layer. As he brandished his massive fist, his knuckles cracked like a string of popping firecrackers, a truly intimidating sound.

Seeing the sturdy youth so brazenly trying to rob someone of their seat, everyone turned to watch. Even Zhaang Yuhu and Zhaang Dahong, ranked first and second, cast their gazes over. They were all waiting to see how Zhaang Ye would handle the situation.

Zhaang Ye’s life experience far exceeded that of his peers, so he wasn’t flustered by the crowd’s attention. Staring at the sturdy youth’s fist, Zhaang Ye said calmly, ”I was sitting here, meditating. You came over and disturbed me without cause. That’s your first offense. After disturbing me, you then threatened me. That’s your second. For committing two offenses, I shall cut you twice.”

”Cut me twice? Kid, are you still half-asleep? HAHA...” The sturdy youth roared with laughter at Zhaang Ye’s words. But just as he was about to add a few more taunts, he saw Zhaang Ye’s palm stiffen into a blade and slash toward him!

Zhaang Ye’s Hand Blade could be described in a single word: Fast!

Zhaang Ye had spent months training with his saber under a waterfall, and the greatest benefit of that training was the speed of his blade. After cultivating Gentle Wind Slash to the stage of Great Success, his attacks had become even faster.

During the ten days he had spent sparring with Zhaang Chengtian and the Grand Elder, Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique had advanced another step. His strikes were silent and traceless, yet incredibly potent. This Hand Blade was a move he had mimicked from the Grand Elder’s Winding Pine Palm. It came without the slightest warning and, once launched, was as fast and eerie as a viper flicking its tongue.

SHUK!

The sturdy youth felt a sharp pain in his thigh. Zhaang Ye’s Hand Blade had struck him, making him stagger as blood sprayed from the gash. He nearly fell to the ground.

The sturdy youth had no time to cry out in pain, because Zhaang Ye’s second Hand Blade was already upon him! It was just as fast, just as vicious, and just as eerie as the first!

The sturdy youth was, after all, an expert at the Martial Arts Third Layer. After taking a hit from Zhaang Ye’s Hand Blade, any trace of his earlier condescension had vanished. Seeing Zhaang Ye’s hand chopping down again, he hurriedly threw up both arms to block, intercepting the second strike.

SMACK! Zhaang Ye’s Hand Blade struck the sturdy youth’s palms.

Zhaang Ye’s Hand Blade had been launched with accumulated force, whereas the sturdy youth had reacted in a panic. The moment their hands met, the immense power sent the tall youth stumbling back several steps, his palms stinging fiercely. He raised them to find a faint, bloody gash sliced across the back of one hand.

Repelled in two strikes!

Those two Hand Blades from Zhaang Ye had come without warning, fast as a meteor, displaying an incredibly solid foundation in the Martial Dao. The eyes of everyone watching him lit up in surprise. As for Zhaang Dahong, the one with the steel staff, a fierce battle lust flared in his eyes. He looked as if he wanted nothing more than to charge forward and fight Zhaang Ye himself.

”You brat, you dare launch a sneak attack on me? You’re courting death!” The sturdy youth had never imagined he would be forced into a panicked retreat by two casual Hand Blades. His face turned livid. He took two great strides forward, raising a palm that seemed to swell to the size of a millstone as he brought it crashing down on Zhaang Ye.

Watching the youth charge at him, Zhaang Ye raised an eyebrow. ’This brute,’ he thought. ’It seems he won’t learn when to back down unless I show him some real pain.’ With a slight flicker, he moved from the bench to the ground. His palm stiffened as he unleashed a strike from the Basic Saber Technique.