Overlord of the Wilderness

News that the great battle between Zhaang Ye and Pan Shi ended in a draw spread like wildfire throughout the entire Outer Sect.

Many people couldn’t believe the news. Who was Zhaang Ye? Just a kid from some small, rural village, with extremely low Eighth-Grade Talent. How could someone with such poor talent, who had only just joined the sect a little over ten days ago, be that powerful? Pan Shi was a different story. He possessed Fourth-Grade Talent, had been cultivating in the Outer Sect for a full eight years, and had steadily raised his strength to the Late-stage Martial Arts Third Layer. He even had the power to contend with masters at the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer.

How could such a formidable figure be forced into a draw by Zhaang Ye?!

People hoped Pan Shi would step forward and clarify the situation. But after the battle, he immediately announced he was entering seclusion, completely ignoring outside affairs.

Whether they believed it or not, Zhaang Ye’s name quickly became known throughout the Outer Sect. Even some Inner Sect Disciples and Stewards grew interested in him. After some investigation by nosy individuals, some basic information about Zhaang Ye began to circulate.

A thirteen-year-old boy with Eighth-Grade Talent, who had only been in the Outer Sect for a little over ten days, had successively defeated more than eighty Outer Disciples, bested the eleventh-ranked Zhaang Dongyang, and fought the ninth-ranked Pan Shi to a draw!

This news made countless people wonder if they had heard correctly.

”Brother! Brother!” Wu Guanghai shouted continuously as he dashed into a small courtyard.

”I heard you! Stop shouting! What’s with all the panic? You’re a mess!” Wu Guangyue’s voice rang out, sharply rebuking Wu Guanghai.

Scolded by Wu Guangyue, Wu Guanghai quickly halted and said, ”Brother, I just heard the news. Zhaang Ye and Pan Shi had a big fight, and they actually fought to a draw!”

”What?! Zhaang Ye actually fought Pan Shi to a draw?!” Wu Guangyue couldn’t help but be startled. He said, ”Have you verified this? Do you know the details?”

Wu Guanghai quickly replied, ”I can hardly believe it myself, but it should be true. There was a group of people challenging Zhaang Ye at the time, and they were watching from the side the whole time Zhaang Ye and Pan Shi were fighting. I asked them repeatedly, and their stories were all basically the same.”

”Pan Shi is even a bit stronger than I am. Zhaang Ye is just a newcomer. How could he possibly fight Pan Shi to a draw?” Wu Guangyue said doubtfully, then asked, ”Tell me the details of the battle.”

Wu Guanghai scratched his head and said, ”I heard the dust was so thick you couldn’t even see them. The onlookers only know that Pan Shi used two techniques: one was ’Four Directions Vast and Green,’ and the other was ’Stubborn Stone Burst.’ Also, before Pan Shi left, he told Zhaang Ye that there were two people he admired most. The first is Zhaang Yujing, and the second is Zhaang Ye.”

”Pan Shi actually put Zhaang Ye on the same level as Zhaang Yujing?!” A flash of astonishment crossed Wu Guangyue’s eyes. He said, ”How is that possible? Zhaang Yujing is the number one disciple in the Outer Sect! He reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer long ago and could break through to the Martial Arts Fourth Layer Heaven at any moment. He’s undefeated in the Outer Sect. What has Zhaang Ye done to deserve being compared to Zhaang Yujing?”

Wu Guangyue thought for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively. ”I know about this now. You can go.”

”But, Brother...” Wu Guanghai stammered, ”I was the one who spread those rumors not long ago. What if that Zhaang Ye comes looking for trouble?”

”In the end, Zhaang Ye is just a newcomer. As long as you don’t go out of your way to provoke him, he probably won’t come looking for trouble,” Wu Guangyue cut in. ”After a little more time, once I reach the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer, I won’t have to fear him anymore. Even if Zhaang Ye can fight Pan Shi to a draw, I have ways to defeat him.”

Overjoyed, Wu Guanghai left, his mind at ease.

”What?! Zhaang Ye fought Pan Shi to a draw?!” Zhaang Yuhu, Zhaang Dahong, and Zhaang Yang received the news at almost the same time, and all three were stunned.

”I heard Pan Shi’s defense is impenetrable. For Zhaang Ye to actually injure him and fight him to a draw... H-how is that possible!” Zhaang Yang muttered.

”Doesn’t Zhaang Ye have Eighth-Grade Talent? How could a good-for-nothing with Eighth-Grade Talent possibly cultivate such formidable strength! How is this possible! How is this possible!” Zhaang Dahong couldn’t help but tighten his grip on his iron staff.

”Damn it! When Zhaang Ye fought me that day, he probably wasn’t even using half his strength!” Zhaang Yuhu’s fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood without him even noticing. He gritted his teeth and said, ”I have to quickly cultivate to the Late-stage Martial Arts Third Layer! I have to master the Ten Thousand Miles Wind Chasing Step to the Great Success Realm! Zhaang Ye, in six months, I will challenge you!”

「In the Steward Hall.」

A Steward chuckled. ”How interesting. A person with Eighth-Grade Talent like Zhaang Ye was actually able to fight Pan Shi to a draw! It seems this Zhaang Ye is worth keeping an eye on.”

Another Steward nodded and said, ”This Zhaang Ye’s Comprehension is quite good. It’s just a shame his talent is so low. For the same Elixir, someone with high talent can absorb seventy or even eighty percent of it, while someone with talent like Zhaang Ye’s can absorb ten or twenty percent at most. To train this Zhaang Ye would require several times, or even more than ten times, the amount of Elixirs as others. No matter how outstandingly Zhaang Ye performs, the clan will only pay him some attention. Generally, it’s impossible for them to list him as a disciple for priority training.”

”Indeed. With Zhaang Ye’s talent, even if the clan were willing to spend a huge amount of Elixirs on him, his advancement wouldn’t be guaranteed. No wonder the clan hasn’t designated him as a priority disciple...”

After his draw with Pan Shi, Zhaang Ye finally got some peace and quiet. Pan Shi’s strength was far greater than Zhaang Dongyang’s. Since Zhaang Ye could fight even Pan Shi to a draw, his own strength could no longer be questioned. At this point, even the dimmest-witted person wouldn’t dare to show up and challenge Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye’s draw with Pan Shi not only spread his name throughout the Outer Sect, but it also changed the Outer Sect’s power rankings. Pan Shi was originally ranked ninth. After fighting Zhaang Ye to a draw, Zhaang Ye immediately entered the ranks of the top ten masters in the Outer Sect. As for the previous tenth-ranked disciple, Wu Guangyue, he was pushed down to eleventh.

By entering the ranks of the top ten Outer Sect masters at the age of thirteen, Zhaang Ye had unintentionally set a new record. This fact left the two thousand disciples of the Outer Sect speechless with amazement.

Of course, not everyone could accept Zhaang Ye climbing over their heads. Some who loved drama and stirring up trouble were already craning their necks in anticipation, hoping that one of the top seven masters of the Outer Sect, or perhaps Ghu Ying, would step forward and teach Zhaang Ye a harsh lesson...