Overlord of the Wilderness

Zhaang Ye nodded when the Fourth Hall Master brought it up. ’It really is strange,’ he thought. The Wei Kingdom had countless geniuses. Even though he had performed exceptionally well, it shouldn’t have been enough to make several Hall Masters fight over him as a disciple.

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s confused expression, the Fourth Hall Master chuckled. ”We all want to take you as our disciple,” he said. ”One reason is your excellent performance during the test. Especially in the Comprehension trial. You passed all three stages in just two days, breaking a record that’s stood for centuries.

You also did well in the final combat power test. The three Martial Arts Seventh Layer experts guarding the stages each cultivate an Advanced Combat Skill, and their attainments in the Martial Dao far surpass yours. Yet, you still managed to break through all three stages. This proves you have exceptional combat talent.

However, the main reason we’re all fighting over you is that you possess a trace of power from one of the Ancient Races. Hmm, it should be the power of the Ancient Elephant Clan...”

Hearing this, Zhaang Ye was secretly stunned. He knew the Fourth Hall Master was definitely referring to the Elephant Power within his body. The Elephant Power was one of his trump cards, and he had always guarded it meticulously. He never imagined it would be discovered just a few days after arriving at the True Hall.

After the initial shock, realization dawned on Zhaang Ye. ’I used my Elephant Power several times during the test. True Dao Experts possess incredible abilities, and their perception can span hundreds of miles. Under those circumstances, it’s only natural that they would detect it.’

Seeing Zhaang Ye’s expression shift from shock to sudden understanding, the Fourth Hall Master nodded slightly.

After his realization, another question popped into Zhaang Ye’s mind. He asked, ”The power of the Ancient Races... that’s not such a big deal, is it? As far as I know, there are at least two others in the True Hall who carry the bloodline of the Ancient Races. Senior Brother Xiong Li has the bloodline of the Ancient Bear Clan, and Feng Tongming has the bloodline of the Ancient Phoenix Clan. Why aren’t you fighting to make Feng Tongming your disciple?”

The Fourth Hall Master explained, ”Bloodline doesn’t equal power. Take Xiong Li. He may possess the bloodline of the Ancient Bear Clan, but after countless generations, that trace of bloodline has been diluted to an extreme degree. Even though he managed to awaken it through various fortunate encounters, the power he cultivates doesn’t amount to one ten-thousandth of the authentic Bear Race’s power. That’s why he still can’t break into the True Dao. Feng Tongming’s situation is similar. Her Ancient Phoenix Clan bloodline is also incredibly thin; she can no longer cultivate the Phoenix Power that once dominated the ancient world.

But the Ancient Elephant Power you possess is different. You received a direct inheritance from the Ancient Elephant Clan, which means you have the most authentic Elephant Power. This sliver of power has endless profound uses. If you can comprehend its mysteries, your chances of entering the True Dao will increase dramatically. And those mysteries are incredibly beneficial even to us True Dao Experts...”

Hearing this, Zhaang Ye finally understood why these old fellows were fighting to make him their disciple. ’So, it’s not me they’re interested in, but the Ancient Elephant Power inside my body!’

Realizing why the four Hall Masters were fighting over him, a thought suddenly struck Zhaang Ye. He blurted out, ”Fourth Hall Master, you don’t plan on using me to comprehend the Elephant Power, do you?”

The Fourth Hall Master chuckled deviously and said with perfect self-assurance, ”Of course I do. As your master, how can I teach you properly if I don’t understand your condition?”

Zhaang Ye was speechless. ’I haven’t even officially become his disciple yet, and this old fellow is already looking at me like a tiger stalking its prey.’

The Fourth Hall Master laughed. ”Kid, I’m just going to comprehend it a little. It’s not like you’ll lose a piece of flesh, so don’t look so unwilling. Relax. After I’m done, I’ll give you some great benefits. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

”Benefits?” Zhaang Ye’s eyes lit up. He shrewdly switched his form of address from ”Fourth Hall Master” to ”Master” and said, ”Master, I’m a man of simple needs. I don’t need too many benefits. Just give me this little wooden cabin. Also, I’m very interested in True Artifacts. Why don’t you give me a few so I can study them? Heh heh, when your disciple makes a name for himself, it will bring you glory too, right?”

The Fourth Hall Master glared at Zhaang Ye and chided him with a laugh, ”You brat, you really know how to ask for the moon! This wooden cabin is a place of cultivation I went to great lengths to create. It has all sorts of wondrous effects. Giving it to you would be a complete waste, so don’t even think about it. Besides, your strength is far too low. You wouldn’t be able to use a True Artifact even if I gave you one. So, True Artifacts are also out of the question...”

After saying this, the Fourth Hall Master instructed, ”This cabin is built from a special kind of wood. Cultivating inside has the effect of calming your mind and qi. You’ve just finished the test, so you can rest well for the next few days. In fifteen days, I’ll come back to comprehend the Ancient Elephant Power.”

With those words, the Fourth Hall Master vanished.

Zhaang Ye knew that cultivating in this cabin was a rare opportunity. As soon as the Fourth Hall Master left, Zhaang Ye wasted no time and immediately entered a state of cultivation.

The cabin not only contained rich and pure Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, but cultivating within it also had the effect to Calm Heart and Qi. The moment Zhaang Ye began circulating his Cultivation Technique, he entered a state of profound tranquility. The pure Heaven and Earth Essence Qi in the cabin flowed into his Meridians like a constant stream of water.

A day passed quickly. When Zhaang Ye exited his cultivation, he found that the True Qi in his Dantian had actually increased by five percent in that single day. He felt that if he cultivated here for another half a month, he could very well break through the Late-stage Martial Fourth Layer and advance to the peak of the Martial Arts Fourth Layer!

The speed of cultivation in the cabin was astonishing. However, Zhaang Ye did not continue. On the second day, he switched to practicing another Cultivation Technique—the Qi Refining Technique.

Zhaang Ye’s aptitude wasn’t the best, so to rapidly increase his strength, he had consumed a large quantity of Elixirs. As a result, his body had accumulated some impurities left behind by them.

Ever since Zhaang Tianlong had pointed out the impurities in his body, Zhaang Ye had wanted to practice the Qi Refining Technique to purge them. However, he had first participated in the Four Races’ young experts tournament and then come to the True Hall for the test. He simply never had the time.

Now that the test was over, Zhaang Ye could finally focus on cultivating the Qi Refining Technique. With its effect to Calm Heart and Qi and its pure Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, the cabin was the perfect place to do so.

The ”Qi Refining Technique” used one’s own body as a cauldron, Meridians and True Qi as the ingredients, and one’s essence as the furnace fire. It was an extremely painful process. However, Zhaang Ye’s willpower had grown increasingly formidable. Furthermore, the cabin’s ability to calm the mind and spirit alleviated some of the pain, allowing him to progress very quickly.

By the second day, he had already grasped the basics. His True Qi began to circulate in a strange pattern, and he could feel faint traces of pain in his body.

On the third day, he successfully completed the first layer of the Qi Refining Technique. The moment he did, the pain in his body multiplied. Every inch his True Qi moved brought a fresh wave of agony.

But this level of pain was nothing to Zhaang Ye. The agony he had experienced while soaking in medicinal concoctions to improve his aptitude back in the Zhaang Family of Cyan Mulberry City was far worse. Since he had endured that excruciating torment, he paid this minor pain no mind.

By the fifth day, Zhaang Ye had entered the 2nd Layer of the Qi Refining Technique. The pain from the 2nd Layer was several times more intense than the first. He felt as if a sharp blade had appeared inside his Meridians. The blade moved with his True Qi, cutting wherever it flowed and bringing waves of excruciating pain.

Though still not quite as bad as the pain from the medicinal soaks, it was getting close. Now, Zhaang Ye had to endure this immense agony without passing out, while simultaneously maintaining a clear mind to continuously circulate the Cultivation Technique.

On the seventh day, Zhaang Ye finally broke through to the 3rd Layer.

The pain of the 3rd Layer was several times more intense than the 2nd. If the pain of the 2nd Layer was like a sharp knife slicing randomly inside him, then the pain of the 3rd Layer was like a dull blade, sawing slowly and erratically. It was a well-known fact that being cut by a dull blade was the most agonizing, and for that dull blade to be hacking away inside one’s most sensitive Meridians... the sensation was utterly horrifying.

At this point, Zhaang Ye finally understood why so many people who attempted the Qi Refining Technique never succeeded.

The pain was one thing. But the other was that after enduring such agony to reach the 3rd Layer, Zhaang Ye discovered his True Qi was exactly the same. It hadn’t become purer in the slightest.

Zhaang Ye thought to himself, ’If you can feel clear progress from a Cultivation Technique, people will persist no matter how painful or difficult it is. But with this Qi Refining Technique, even after reaching the 3rd Layer, there are absolutely no results—only endless pain. It’s no wonder so many people give up halfway.’

Zhaang Ye’s willpower, tempered time and again, had become incredibly resilient. Even though the Qi Refining Technique seemed to have no effect, he had no intention of giving up. He continued to silently circulate the technique, over and over again.

On the tenth day, Zhaang Ye finally broke through to the 4th Layer.

Upon entering the 4th Layer of the Qi Refining Technique, Zhaang Ye felt an indescribable pain from every inch of his skin and muscle, both inside and out. The pain was almost tangible, crashing against his Heart Spirit in relentless waves, threatening to overwhelm him at any moment. This was a test not only of his Willpower, but also of his physical endurance.

If Zhaang Ye couldn’t persevere, he would pass out. The cultivation of the Qi Refining Technique could not be interrupted; fainting now would mean all his previous efforts would be for naught.

At that moment, time seemed to stretch on for an eternity. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)