Overlord of the Wilderness

After Zhaang Ye knocked Zhou Yuhe unconscious with a single blow, the next match was Zhaang Yijian versus Luo Yongsheng.

Standing on the Martial Arts Arena, Luo Yongsheng’s sharp gaze was fixed on Zhaang Yijian. Fifteen years ago, the people of Cyan Mulberry City had named him one of the city’s four great geniuses. But before Luo Yongsheng even had a chance to rejoice, a dark cloud appeared above his head.

That dark cloud was Zhaang Yijian.

Among Cyan Mulberry City’s four great geniuses, Zhaang Yijian ranked first. And among the top ten experts of Cyan Mulberry City’s Younger Generation, Zhaang Yijian was still ranked first. He was like a rock that hadn’t changed in ten thousand years, or a great mountain sealed in ice for a hundred million years, pressing down on Luo Yongsheng’s head so heavily that he could barely breathe.

Now, Luo Yongsheng had cultivated his Celestial Net Step Technique to the Great Success Realm. In addition, his Thunder Shock Sword Technique had also reached the Great Success Realm. Relying on his marvelous footwork and the mighty Thunder Shock Sword Technique, he finally had the capital to challenge Zhaang Yijian. In this battle, Luo Yongsheng was determined to turn the tables and crush Zhaang Yijian underfoot.

The Celestial Net Step Technique originated from the Little Luo Step Method, but its wonders far surpassed its predecessor. Although the Celestial Net Step Technique, when cultivated to the Great Success Realm, was not yet comparable to a High-Level Footwork Technique, it was far, far better than an ordinary Mid-Level Body Technique. With the Celestial Net Step Technique, Luo Yongsheng could advance to attack and retreat to defend. He believed that no matter how formidable Zhaang Yijian was, he wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.

As for his Thunder Shock Sword Technique, when unleashed, it was like a heavenly thunderclap—incomparably mighty. With such a powerful swordsmanship technique, Luo Yongsheng was confident he would have no problem clashing head-on with Zhaang Yijian.

Luo Yongsheng stared at Zhaang Yijian for a while, only to find that Zhaang Yijian was like a statue, cold and lifeless. In Zhaang Yijian’s eyes, Luo Yongsheng couldn’t see a single trace of the emotional fluctuations a living person should have.

Luo Yongsheng’s heart sank slightly.

At that moment, the referee shouted from the side, ”The match begins!”

SWOOSH!

Before the referee’s voice had even faded, Luo Yongsheng’s figure vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was already ten feet in front of Zhaang Yijian, his Long Sword raised.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!

A Thunderous Sound erupted out of thin air on the Martial Arts Arena. Zhaang Ye, even standing below the arena, could clearly feel the rolling waves of air that followed it.

’What a marvelous Swordsmanship technique! To think he can manifest a Thunderous Sound with just the Long Sword in his hand. It seems Luo Yongsheng truly lives up to his name as the second strongest of the Younger Generation!’ Zhaang Ye saw clearly that the thunderous rumbles had just emanated from Luo Yongsheng’s Long Sword.

Luo Yongsheng’s Body Technique was already incredibly profound, so much so that the eye could not follow it. Paired with a Swordsmanship that could produce the sound of thunder, his imposing aura was enhanced even further.

Amidst the thunder, Luo Yongsheng’s Long Sword suddenly manifested six streaks of Sword Light that flew toward Zhaang Yijian.

When these six streaks of Sword Light slashed out, they didn’t travel in a straight line. Instead, they took on a profound arc, looking like six bolts of lightning streaking through the void, abruptly striking at Zhaang Yijian.

Facing the six lightning-like streaks of Sword Light, Zhaang Yijian’s ice-cold eyes finally flickered. The Long Sword in his hand slowly thrust out, pointing toward the six streaks of Sword Light.

DING DING DING DING DING DING!

Zhaang Yijian’s sword strike seemed incredibly slow, as if the six streaks of Sword Light would hit his body before his Long Sword was even fully extended. But this slow strike held an endless profundity. As his Long Sword pointed forward, the six lightning-fast streaks of Sword Light dissipated into the air after a series of clashes.

Although Zhaang Ye couldn’t fully comprehend Zhaang Yijian’s Swordsmanship, he was able to see some of its subtleties. Zhaang Yijian’s previous strike had appeared slow and powerless, but in reality, as he struck, the Long Sword in his hand vibrated at an extreme speed. This vibration, combined with his Powerful Qi, instantly gave rise to an infinite Dark Force.

This invisible Dark Force was like a wall. The moment Luo Yongsheng’s six lightning-fast streaks of Sword Light encountered it, they immediately lost their speed, no longer posing a threat to Zhaang Yijian.

In short, Zhaang Yijian was able to receive Luo Yongsheng’s lightning-fast swordsmanship with such a slow technique because he relied on the boundless force surging from his Long Sword. With this force, Zhaang Yijian had no fear, no matter how fast his opponent was.

Luo Yongsheng’s six strikes were merely a probing attack. Seeing that Zhaang Yijian had blocked them, he altered his Body Technique, circling Zhaang Yijian like the wind, retracting his Long Sword, and launching another attack.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—

This strike from Luo Yongsheng was twice as powerful as his previous attack. The Thunderous Sound emanating from his Long Sword made people’s ears buzz. Amidst the thunder, Luo Yongsheng sent out seven sharp streaks of Sword Light, fast as lightning, slashing toward Zhaang Yijian.

Zhaang Yijian again thrust out with a single strike.

However, this strike was slightly faster than the last, and the Hidden Force that surged out was clearly much greater. After a flurry of Powerful Qi collisions, Zhaang Yijian once again received Luo Yongsheng’s attack.

In the ensuing battle, Luo Yongsheng’s figure moved, transforming into dozens of illusory shadows that were difficult for the naked eye to see. These illusory shadows circled Zhaang Yijian, launching one fierce attack after another. For a moment, the entire mountaintop was filled with the rumbling of thunder. But Zhaang Yijian, who remained standing still, relied on his slow swordsmanship to receive every one of Luo Yongsheng’s attacks.

No matter how fast, how strange, or how magnificent Luo Yongsheng’s Swordsmanship was, Zhaang Yijian would always just slowly point his sword, effortlessly neutralizing the attack.

Zhaang Yijian’s performance caused Lee Lie and Zhou Yuhe to suck in a cold breath, and it even moved the Elders slightly.

Also a spectator, Zhaang Ye seemed to have an epiphany as he watched Zhaang Yijian’s Swordsmanship. His eyes were fixed unblinking on Zhaang Yijian, imprinting every minute movement into his mind.

Zhaang Ye had created the Gentle Wind Slash himself, and not long ago, he had also created the Mountain-Breaking Slash.

Zhaang Ye’s Mountain-Breaking Slash was created from an insight he gained after observing a Space Storm. For the Mountain-Breaking Slash to reach the Great Success Realm, two types of power were needed.

One was Rotating Power.

The other was Dissolving Power.

In the Mammoth Cemetery, Zhaang Ye had already grasped a bit of the mystery of Rotational Force. After fusing with Elephant Power, Zhaang Ye’s comprehension of Rotating Power had deepened. Although he was far from truly comprehending Rotating Power, he was already able to use it to perform all sorts of miraculous feats. For instance, when leaving his name on the Memorial Stone, Zhaang Ye used the marvels of this Rotating Power, Borrowing Power with his sleeve, to forcefully lift his body to a height of thirty-five zhang. And not long ago, he relied on the Force-Dissipating Technique within Rotating Power to receive a blow from a Luo Family Elder head-on, emerging completely unscathed.

Zhaang Ye had comprehended a fair amount about Rotating Power, but as for Dissolving Power, he had been unable to even touch upon it, let alone comprehend it. Now, seeing Zhaang Yijian fight Luo Yongsheng, using a slow-moving swordsmanship to effortlessly neutralize Luo Yongsheng’s lightning-fast attacks, gave Zhaang Ye a great inspiration. He vaguely began to grasp a way to achieve Dissolving Power.

Vibration! High-speed vibration!

Zhaang Yijian made the sword in his hand vibrate, and the Dark Force that surged out, wave after wave, dismantled Luo Yongsheng’s lightning-fast attacks. Zhaang Ye felt that if he could also make his saber’s blade vibrate thousands of times in an instant, then his Saber Technique would be able to achieve Dissolving Power!

Intense vibrations could break down any hard object. If he could make the saber’s blade vibrate thousands of times in an instant, then the high-speed vibrating blade could instantly decompose anything it touched, making it look as if the object had dissolved on its own. This power, to dissolve anything on contact, was the unique power of a Space Storm!

Having figured out the method to achieve Dissolving Power, Zhaang Ye’s eyes lit up. He stopped watching the battle on the stage, found a clean rock, and sat down cross-legged in meditation.

The Mountain-Breaking Slash required two types of power: Rotating Power and Dissolving Power. Zhaang Ye had now touched upon the very basics of Dissolving Power. He could finally perfect the Mountain-Breaking Slash.

Zhaang Ye leaping to the side to close his eyes and meditate immediately caught the attention of the four Elders, as well as Lee Lie and Zhou Yuhe. The six of them all turned their gazes to Zhaang Ye.

The Zhou Family Elder glanced at Zhaang Ye, a hint of surprise on his face, and said, ”That kid, Zhaang Ye... could he have suddenly entered a state of epiphany?”

The Lee Family Elder glanced over and said, ”Impossible. An epiphany is something one can only chance upon, not seek. How could he enter it so casually!”

”Heh heh, you never know,” Zhaang Tianlong said. He knew Zhaang Ye’s Comprehension was extremely high, so entering a state of epiphany wasn’t out of the ordinary for him. He glanced at Zhaang Ye and muttered to himself, ’His Comprehension is quite good. To suddenly close his eyes and start meditating... I wonder what he’s realized. Hmm, I’ll just have to ask him when he wakes up.’

BANG!

Just then, on the Martial Arts Arena, Zhaang Yijian, who had been standing quietly and letting Luo Yongsheng attack, finally moved. His body suddenly took a step forward, and with a wave of the sword in his hand, a chilling beam of Sword Qi nearly nine chi long burst forth!

Although the swing of Zhaang Yijian’s sword was slow, the Sword Qi that shot from its tip was as fast as lightning. Luo Yongsheng had no time to attack; he hurriedly executed his Body Technique to dodge the fierce Sword Qi.

SWISH!

Luo Yongsheng had just dodged the first strike when Zhaang Yijian’s second arrived.

It was another fierce beam of Sword Qi, but within it surged a massive Dark Force. This immense Dark Force caused even Luo Yongsheng’s Body Technique to become sluggish!

Luo Yongsheng let out a great shout. The Long Sword in his hand boomed with thunder as he blocked Zhaang Yijian’s second strike head-on.

Luo Yongsheng’s strength was his Body Technique. Now that Zhaang Yijian had forced him into a direct block, he had fallen completely into a disadvantageous position. The True Qi in his body circulated frantically as he tried to break free from Zhaang Yijian’s Dark Force, but at that moment, Zhaang Yijian’s third strike came!

This strike was even fiercer than the second. As the Long Sword swung, a beam of Sword Qi as thick as an arm shot out. Luo Yongsheng hadn’t even heard the sound of the Sword Qi breaking the air before it was already upon him!

The approach of this Sword Qi was actually faster than sound!

”AH!” With nowhere to dodge, Luo Yongsheng had no choice but to roar, swinging his own Long Sword to send out a chilling beam of Sword Qi to meet Zhaang Yijian’s.

KCH—

In a sound of clashing metal, Zhaang Yijian’s Sword Qi instantly engulfed Luo Yongsheng’s. The aftershock of the Sword Qi flashed over like lightning, grazing past Luo Yongsheng and shredding his clothes into fine strips. Under the impact of the Sword Qi, Luo Yongsheng violently spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body shot like a meteor, falling straight off the Martial Arts Arena.

Seeing Zhaang Yijian send Luo Yongsheng flying with lightning speed, both Lee Lie and Zhou Yuhe’s expressions changed. Lee Lie murmured, ”Such tyrannical Cultivation, such ferocious Sword Qi! It seems Zhaang Yijian wasn’t fighting back earlier only because he was using Luo Yongsheng’s attacks to temper his Swordsmanship. Those last three strikes were his true ability! Who could possibly receive such fierce Sword Qi?” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)