Overlord of the Wilderness

As the three of them were speaking, a white-haired youth suddenly shot out from the crowd and strode directly into the iron cage. It was none other than Zhaang Yang.

The combat skill Zhaang Yang cultivated, the Falling Leaves Leg, was a Mid-Level Combat Skill. He was also extremely fond of fighting and had made quite a name for himself at a young age. Some even said his strength was on par with Zhaang Dahong’s and Zhaang Yuhu’s.

This youth, who had become famous at such a young age, had captured the attention of not only the other boys but also the stewards responsible for testing and observation.

”ROAR—” As soon as Zhaang Yang entered the cage, the huge Black Armor Fang Beast immediately pounced. Its massive body pressed down on Zhaang Yang like a great mountain.

Zhaang Yang sneered. His toe tapped the bars of the iron cage, which rang out with a loud CLANG. With that sound, his body vanished without a trace, reappearing on the other side. The Black Armor Fang Beast’s pounce hit nothing but air.

”WHOA—” A murmur of amazement rippled through the watching youths. They hadn’t expected Zhaang Yang’s Body Technique to be so refined; he had effortlessly dodged the Black Armor Fang Beast’s attack.

Seeing its attack miss, the Black Armor Fang Beast grew enraged. It let out a sudden roar, and with a swing of its massive head, its two gleaming tusks slashed toward Zhaang Yang like bolts of lightning.

The Black Armor Fang Beast was most famous for its tusks. They were hard, sharp, and over ten feet long. Propelled by the beast’s immense strength, the tusks were more terrifying than a Martial Artist’s Fixed Sword. They could cleave through a massive boulder with ease. Any Martial Artist, no matter how skilled, would be sliced in half if hit.

Zhaang Yang hadn’t expected the Black Armor Fang Beast to attack with such speed. Startled, his figure flickered and seemed to vanish from his spot, just barely dodging the beast’s tusks.

Seeing Zhaang Yang’s performance, Zhaang Qing’s eyes narrowed. ”Zhaang Yang’s Body Technique is so fast! It’s even a notch faster than my Chaotic Flower Fall! Zhaang Ye, I’m afraid your Startled Swan Step can’t compare to his either!”

Zhaang Ye nodded. ”Your Chaotic Flower Fall and my Startled Swan Step are both low-level cultivation methods. The Body Technique Zhaang Yang is using is a Mid-Level Technique, so of course we can’t compare. But he hasn’t cultivated his Body Technique to the Great Success Realm. I doubt he can keep dodging this Fierce Beast’s attacks.”

As they spoke, Zhaang Yang dodged two more of the Black Armor Fang Beast’s attacks, but his room to maneuver was shrinking. When the beast swung its tusks for the fourth time, Zhaang Yang didn’t dare to face it. He gave a strange cry, leaped backward, and jumped out of the cage.

The steward in charge of the test nodded slightly and announced, ”Zhaang Yang, ten breaths!”

BOOM! Hearing the steward’s announcement, a commotion swept through the youths. The previous Zhaang Yuan, Zhaang Jian, and Seal had managed to last for five breaths, which was already very impressive. But no one had expected Zhaang Yang to last a full five breaths longer than them. What incredible strength!

The test continued. After a dozen more boys had their turn, all eyes fell on Zhaang Dahong. He was next.

Zhaang Dahong possessed strength approaching the Martial Arts Third Layer Middle Stage and also had Innate Divine Strength. After entering the cage, he first dodged two attacks. When the Black Armor Fang Beast launched its third attack, he did something that astonished even the stewards—he raised his steel staff with both hands and met the Black Armor Fang Beast’s strike head-on!

”CLANG!”

With the sound of metal on metal, the steel staff in Zhaang Dahong’s hands instantly bent as if about to break, and he himself was sent flying by a great force, slamming hard against the bars of the iron cage.

This Zhaang Dahong was truly incredible. After being slammed so hard, he didn’t even lose consciousness. He spat out a mouthful of blood, rolled his body, and managed to quickly tumble out of the iron cage before the Black Armor Fang Beast’s next attack could land.

The steward checked Zhaang Dahong’s injuries and announced, ”Zhaang Dahong, ten breaths!”

”This Zhaang Dahong, his strength is just too incredible!”

”The legends about his Innate Divine Strength are true!”

”The one ranked second among the Branches is truly amazing. He can even take a direct hit from a Fierce Beast!”

Although Zhaang Dahong’s time was the same as Zhaang Yang’s, the youths knew the difference. Zhaang Yang had lasted ten breaths purely by dodging, while Zhaang Dahong had actually traded a blow with the Black Armor Fang Beast within his ten breaths.

Putting everything else aside, just the fact that he had clashed with the Black Armor Fang Beast and survived was enough for Zhaang Dahong’s strength to earn the youths’ utmost admiration.

After Zhaang Dahong, it was Zhaang Qing and Zhaang Que’s turn.

Zhaang Qing’s Body Technique, the Chaotic Flower Mist, was not very fast, but its strength lay in its complexity and unpredictability. Relying on this technique, Zhaang Qing lasted for seven breaths, which was a respectable result.

As for Zhaang Que, he often dealt with wild beasts and had a better understanding of their attack patterns. Relying on this knowledge, he repeatedly dodged just before the Black Armor Fang Beast launched its attacks. Although he was eventually forced out of the iron cage, he managed to last for nine breaths, nearly matching Zhaang Yang and Zhaang Dahong’s scores.

After Zhaang Que, it was finally the turn of the number one youth of the Branches, Zhaang Yuhu.

Zhaang Yuhu had entered the Martial Arts Third Layer at the age of thirteen, and the Cultivation Technique he practiced was a Mid-Level Combat Skill. With his outstanding talent and powerful Cultivation Technique, his strength a year ago was already comparable to the Martial Arts Third Layer Middle Stage, or even the Late Stage. He surpassed his talented peers like Zhaang Dahong and Zhaang Yang, firmly holding the number one position of his generation.

The title of ”Number One of his Generation in the Branches” was no small matter. The moment Zhaang Yuhu entered the arena, he immediately drew everyone’s gaze. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see his performance.

With a faint, arrogant smile on his lips, Zhaang Yuhu leaped into the iron cage, completely empty-handed.

The aura emanating from Zhaang Yuhu was quite strong. Although the Black Armor Fang Beast wasn’t very bright, it still sensed how formidable Zhaang Yuhu was. Before he had even steadied himself, it immediately swung its tusks, which shot forward like two arrows!

”SWISH SWISH SWISH!”

Zhaang Yuhu instantly displayed a supreme Body Technique. The moment he entered the cage, he seemed to transform into a wisp of breeze, executing all sorts of evasive maneuvers within the cramped space. Although the Black Armor Fang Beast’s attacks were incredibly sharp, they just couldn’t hit him!

”AWOO AWOO AWOO!” Its repeated attacks proving useless, the Black Armor Fang Beast finally became enraged. Its two tusks suddenly detached from its body, shooting toward Zhaang Yuhu like two arrows. At the same time, its massive body abruptly swelled, almost filling the entire cage and leaving Zhaang Yuhu with no room to dodge!

”Th-this Black Armor Fang Beast’s tusks... they can actually detach to attack!” The watching youths were stunned by the beast’s tactic. They knew that if they were facing such a lightning-fast strike, they wouldn’t even have time to dodge before two bloody holes were pierced through them!

If the spectators were shocked, Zhaang Yuhu, the one in combat, was even more so. The tusks flew so fast his eyes couldn’t track them; even with his Body Technique, he had no time to dodge. At this moment of life and death, he forcefully twisted his body, evading one tusk. At the same time, with a flick of his hand, a Short Sword suddenly appeared and slashed out, striking the other tusk dead-on.

”WAH!” The force behind the tusk was immense. After blocking the blow with his Short Sword, Zhaang Yuhu was sent flying out of the iron cage like a kite with its string cut, spitting several mouthfuls of blood.

The steward checked his injuries and, seeing that his life wasn’t in danger, announced, ”Zhaang Yuhu, twenty breaths!”

”Twenty breaths! That’s double Zhaang Dahong’s and Zhaang Yang’s ten breaths! He truly is the number one of our generation in the Branches!” The youths exclaimed in amazement, their gazes toward Zhaang Yuhu filled with envy and a touch of awe.

Hearing the steward’s announcement, Zhaang Yuhu struggled to his feet, that same arrogant smile still on his lips. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and turned his gaze toward Zhaang Ye.

Even though Zhaang Ye had low aptitude and had relied on medicine for his breakthrough, Zhaang Yuhu always felt that there was more to him than met the eye.

Zhaang Ye was the only person Zhaang Yuhu couldn’t see through.

Zhaang Yuhu was watching Zhaang Ye, and so were Zhaang Dahong and Zhaang Yang. Back at the gathering point, Zhaang Ye had effortlessly fought two experts of the same rank and come out on top. He had taken first place passing through the mines. Things like these made it impossible for them not to pay attention.

Zhaang Yuhu, Zhaang Dahong, and Zhaang Yang all fixed their eyes on Zhaang Ye, waiting to see his performance.

Zhaang Que and Zhaang Qing, who had long felt that Zhaang Ye’s strength was profound and unfathomable, also turned their gazes to him.

Seeing the five most outstanding youths of the Branches all turn their attention to Zhaang Ye, the testing steward and observing steward were both slightly taken aback. Steward Wang chuckled. ”This Zhaang Ye has such poor aptitude, yet he’s garnered so much attention. It seems his strength isn’t too bad after all.”

Steward Bai shook his head slightly. ”Someone who relied on medicine to break through... just how strong can he be?”

Steward Wang laughed. ”That’s not a given. We’ll see.”

Just then, the steward in charge of the test finally called out, ”Zhaang Ye, it’s your turn!”

Zhaang Ye nodded slightly and strode toward the iron cage.