Overlord of the Wilderness

”Gasp—”

”He can even do that?”

Everyone below the Martial Arts Arena, including Elder Luo, thought Luo Yongsheng was a dead man. To their astonishment, Zhaang Ye managed to alter the Heavy Saber’s trajectory at the very last moment, allowing Luo Yongsheng to keep his life.

The more domineering a Combat Skill, the harder it is to control once unleashed. The slash Zhaang Ye had just executed was an incredibly domineering saber strike. Once launched, such a technique is like an arrow loosed from its string or water that has been spilled—completely beyond the user’s control.

For Zhaang Ye to now control a Combat Skill that had already been unleashed, causing the Heavy Saber to deviate from its original path, was no small shock to Zhaang Tianlong and the other Elder Level figures.

Although they were surprised, the Elders, Lee Lie, and Zhou Yuhe felt it made sense when they considered that Zhaang Ye was someone favored by the True Hall. That’s just how it was; a different status meant being viewed through a different lens. Since Zhaang Ye was chosen by the True Hall, he must be a genius among geniuses. It wasn’t necessary to be too surprised by anything a person like that did.

After the referee announced Zhaang Ye’s victory, the eighth and ninth matches commenced. However, these two bouts were nothing special. For instance, in the match between Zhaang Yijian and Zhou Yuhe, despite Zhou Yuhe using his Palm Technique and Footwork Technique with all his might, he only lasted three strikes against Zhaang Yijian’s Swordsmanship before being defeated. The fight lacked all the tension and excitement of a true duel between masters.

Finally, it was time for the last match: Zhaang Yijian versus Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Yijian’s icy expression relaxed slightly. He actually smiled and said, ”Zhaang Ye, I’ve been wanting to fight you for a long time. Let’s go all out now.” After speaking, he drew his Long Sword and thrust it toward Zhaang Ye.

As Zhaang Yijian made his move, Zhaang Ye felt the air around him suddenly become saturated with layers of Dark Force. The air grew viscous, and for an instant, it felt as if he had been submerged underwater; his Body Technique and movements were severely affected. And just as his movements were being hindered, Zhaang Yijian’s Long Sword erupted with streams of Sword Qi that slashed toward Zhaang Ye.

Zhaang Ye had observed Zhaang Yijian’s Swordsmanship before and knew that it relied on this endless Dark Force to overcome opponents. Having anticipated this, Zhaang Ye spun his body slightly the moment Zhaang Yijian struck, executing the Reverse Flow Slash.

The Reverse Flow Slash was a saber strike that went against the current, excelling at using force to shatter force.

SSSHHHHHKKKKKK—

As the Heavy Saber clashed with the Dark Force, Zhaang Yijian discovered that the layers of Dark Force he had deployed were utterly shattered by Zhaang Ye’s one slash.

”Excellent!”

Zhaang Yijian’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the Heavy Saber in Zhaang Ye’s hands. ”What a fine Heavy Saber!” he said. ”Junior Brother Zhaang, that saber of yours is both heavy and sharp. No wonder it could so easily slice through the Dark Force I deployed. But you should be careful now, Junior Brother. I’m going to attack with Sword Qi.”

With that said, Zhaang Yijian raised his Long Sword once more and thrust.

”SWOOSH—”

As the sword thrust out, Zhaang Ye saw a flash of light before him. A beam of Sword Qi as thick as an arm shot out, crossing the eight-foot distance in the blink of an eye and stabbing toward him!

The Sword Qi was visible, but it was accompanied by invisible layers of Dark Force. The forces contained within this Dark Force were strange and unpredictable; they nearly tore the clothes from Zhaang Ye’s body and almost pushed him from his steady stance. What was more terrifying was that this bizarre Dark Force also tried to cunningly bore its way into his eyes, ears, and nose!

’What terrifying Dark Force!’ Even though Zhaang Ye already held Zhaang Yijian in high regard, he couldn’t help but be startled when suddenly faced with such a strange Dark Force. He spun around and, without hesitation, executed the Mountain-Breaking Slash.

”SWOOSH!”

As Zhaang Ye executed the Mountain-Breaking Slash, his Heavy Saber carved a pitch-black arc through the air, cleaving through the layers of strange Dark Force and colliding squarely with Zhaang Yijian’s Sword Qi.

”BOOM!”

Zhaang Yijian’s Sword Qi was split apart by Zhaang Ye’s slash.

”Excellent!” Seeing Zhaang Ye split his Sword Qi, Zhaang Yijian gave a sharp cry. ”For this next strike, I will use seventy percent of my True Qi. Be careful!” As he spoke, his wrist trembled, and a beam of Sword Qi even thicker than an arm shot out violently. Its glow was more intense than the midday sun, and its speed was too fast to describe in words!

Below the Martial Arts Arena, Luo Yongsheng couldn’t help but tremble when he saw that strike. When he had fought Zhaang Yijian earlier, he had been forced off the stage by this very same Sword Qi, which was faster than sound. The icy sensation of that Sword Qi bearing down on him lingered to this day, impossible to shake.

The four Elders below the Martial Arts Arena, along with Lee Lie and the others, knew that Zhaang Yijian was now displaying his true strength. All of them stared intently at Zhaang Ye, waiting to see if he could block Zhaang Yijian’s Sword Qi.

Under the crowd’s watchful gaze, Zhaang Ye’s body suddenly transformed into a whirlwind. The saber in his hand became a pitch-black shadow that, in less than the blink of an eye, ruthlessly slashed down upon Zhaang Yijian’s Sword Qi.

”BOOM!”

Zhaang Ye successfully blocked Zhaang Yijian’s Sword Qi, but the impact from the strike, which was faster than sound, sent him flying backward.