Overlord of the Wilderness

(Thank you, dear readers, for your support! Wishing you all a Happy New Year and may all your dreams come true! We had guests over early this morning, so I had to entertain them. This Chapter is a little late, my sincerest apologies.)

After killing an opponent, the next logical step was to search the body for valuables. Having killed more and more people over the past few months, Zhaang Ye had become extremely familiar with this routine.

To Zhaang Ye’s surprise, the red-robed middle-aged man didn’t have even a single bottle of Elixirs on him. He did find three Golden Tickets, however, with a total face value of thirty thousand taels.

Besides the Golden Tickets, Zhaang Ye also found an exquisite Jade Box. It was a little over a foot long and about three fingers wide. The external craftsmanship was very delicate, and the quality of the jade itself was also quite high.

Zhaang Ye examined the Jade Box, a surge of delight rising within him. ’A box like this is already quite valuable, so whatever is inside must be even more precious.’

Now was not the time to inspect his findings. Zhaang Ye tucked the Jade Box away, used his Thick-Backed Saber to carve a pit in the ground, and tossed the man’s body inside. After burying him, Zhaang Ye turned and left.

After killing the red-robed man, Zhaang Ye’s journey was exceptionally smooth. He traveled by day and rested by night. When moving at his fastest, he could cover two to three thousand li in a single day.

「Four days later.」

Zhaang Ye’s figure appeared outside Cyan Mulberry City. It was only then that he noticed far more Martial Artists entering the city than usual. Most of them possessed the strength of the Martial Arts Third Layer. There were some whose cultivation Zhaang Ye couldn’t discern, meaning they were most likely experts of the Martial Arts Fourth Layer.

Recalling the words of the Steward at the ferry crossing, Zhaang Ye wondered, ’Could these people be here for the competition over the Gathering Flower Fruit? Cyan Mulberry City is the domain of the Zhaang, Luo, Li, and Zhou families. How would these Loose Cultivators be qualified to compete for it?’

Although Zhaang Ye was puzzled, he was also carrying several hundred jin on his back and had no desire to linger. He paid the city entrance fee and strode toward the Zhaang Family estate.

After verifying his identity at the Zhaang Family entrance, Zhaang Ye, still carrying his bundle, walked to a shop within the family compound.

The Zhaang Family compound was practically a small city, with all sorts of shops available. The one Zhaang Ye entered specialized in buying various Fierce Beast materials.

Shops that bought Fierce Beast materials were a common sight in Cyan Mulberry City, and they offered decent prices. However, the city was a chaotic mix of people. For safety’s sake, Zhaang Ye had decided to bring his goods back and sell them to the family.

He might get a slightly lower price selling to the family, but his safety would be absolutely guaranteed.

As Zhaang Ye entered the shop, he was surprised to see an acquaintance—Wu Guanghai. Wu Guanghai was clearly there to sell materials as well. A huge pile of Fierce Beast sinews, bones, and hides lay before him, resembling a small mountain.

Standing beside Wu Guanghai was a young man who looked slightly older than him and bore a slight resemblance. He stood there with a steady, powerful aura, and Zhaang Ye could tell at a glance that this young man was an expert at the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer.

There were few customers in the shop, so Wu Guanghai noticed Zhaang Ye the moment he entered. A look of gleeful surprise crossed Wu Guanghai’s face. He quickly whispered something to the young man beside him while pointing at Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye saw Wu Guanghai’s actions clearly. However, since they hadn’t provoked him directly, he couldn’t be bothered to pay them any mind.

’I’ve already killed five or six experts of the Martial Arts Fourth Layer,’ Zhaang Ye thought. ’As for someone like Wu Guanghai, who’s only at the Martial Arts Third Layer, I could kill him with one hand.’

”Zhaang Ye, you’re finally back!” Wu Guanghai walked over, a sneer on his face. ”I was starting to think you’d never dare to show your face in the family again.”

Zhaang Ye glanced at Wu Guanghai and chuckled in amusement. ”Why wouldn’t I return? Am I supposed to be afraid of you? I could kill trash like you with a single hand. Why would I ever need to fear you?”

”You...” Wu Guanghai was so furious he was rendered speechless.

”Kid, watch your tongue,” the young man resembling Wu Guanghai said as he walked over, his voice deep. ”In this world, strength is what matters, not a sharp mouth. Pretty words are no match for a hard fist.”

”That’s right, that’s right!” Wu Guanghai’s sneer returned. He pointed to the young man beside him. ”Zhaang Ye, do you know who this is? He’s my older brother! His cultivation has already reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer. He could crush you with a single finger! If you kneel and beg for mercy right now, I might consider giving you some face and making your defeat less humiliating. Otherwise, my brother is going to challenge you every day, beating you until you’ll wish you were dead!”

Zhaang Ye smiled, ignoring Wu Guanghai’s blustering and shifting his gaze to the young man. ’Since Wu Guanghai called him his older brother, then this must be Wu Guangyue.’ Wu Guangyue was ranked tenth on the Outer Sect power rankings.

’When Zhaang Qing told me about him, Wu Guangyue’s cultivation was at the Late-stage Martial Arts Third Layer. It seems his strength has improved, and he’s actually reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer now.’

’The combat strength of the Third Layer Peak is far more formidable than the Late Stage. With a brother like that to back him up, no wonder Wu Guanghai looked so smug and fearless upon seeing me.’

Zhaang Ye glanced at Wu Guangyue and chuckled. ”Wu Guangyue, you want to challenge me?”

Before Wu Guangyue could even speak, Wu Guanghai jumped forward, glaring fiercely at Zhaang Ye. ”That’s right, we’re challenging you! The Zhaang Family forbids casual fighting, but formal challenges are allowed! We’re going to challenge you and beat you to within an inch of your life!”

After shouting this, he tugged on Wu Guangyue’s arm. ”Brother, challenge him now! Beat him half to death!”

Wu Guangyue didn’t answer his brother. His eyes remained fixed on Zhaang Ye, his face a mask of shock. Only then did Wu Guanghai realize something was off about his brother’s reaction. ”Brother, what’s wrong?”

Wu Guangyue ignored his brother. He took a deep breath and asked, ”Zhaang Ye, when did your cultivation reach the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer?”

”Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer!” Hearing his brother’s words, Wu Guanghai’s eyes flew wide open. He pointed at Zhaang Ye, his face a picture of disbelief. ”H-how is that possible? Impossible!”

Wu Guanghai simply couldn’t accept that Zhaang Ye had reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer. It wasn’t an easy realm to break into. His own brother, Wu Guangyue, had been at the Late-stage Martial Arts Third Layer, and it had taken him a long period of preparation followed by several more months of effort to finally make the breakthrough to the Third Layer Peak.

Just a few months ago, Zhaang Ye had only been at the Mid-stage Third Layer. How could he have suddenly jumped all the way to the Third Layer Peak? Wu Guanghai found it utterly unbelievable.

”It’s fake! It has to be fake!” Wu Guanghai pointed at Zhaang Ye, shouting, ”You’re just faking that aura! Hmph, go on, keep up the act. The moment my brother makes his move, you’re done for...”

Zhaang Ye glared at Wu Guanghai. Wu Guanghai felt as if a vicious Fierce Beast had locked its eyes on him. His hair stood on end, and a bone-deep chill surged up from his heart, rendering him speechless.

”Wu Guangyue,” Zhaang Ye said slowly, ”do you still intend to challenge me?”

Wu Guangyue’s expression shifted. As an expert who had also reached the Peak of Martial Arts Third Layer, he could certainly tell that Zhaang Ye’s cultivation was genuine.

’A few months ago, Zhaang Ye had fought Pan Shi to a draw. Now that he has broken through to the Third Layer Peak, his power must be even more terrifying,’ Wu Guangyue thought. ’Even though I’ve also reached the Peak, I don’t have much confidence in defeating him.’

After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, Wu Guangyue took a deep breath and declared, ”Of course, I will challenge you!”

Zhaang Ye nodded slightly. ”Wait a moment. After I take care of these Fierce Beast materials, I’ll fight you.” With that, he strode over to the shop counter, undid the bundle on his back, and opened it.

The moment Zhaang Ye opened his pack, everyone in the shop stared, their eyes wide with astonishment.