Overlord of the Wilderness

The stars within the True Hall were all formed from Star Luo Stones. They appeared to be of various sizes, but in reality, they were all the same. It was only that the light they emitted varied in brightness, making them seem large and small.

This Central Star had appeared dazzlingly bright from the ground, looking as large as a basin. But when it landed in Zhaang Ye’s hand, it immediately transformed into a fist-sized Star Luo Stone. The stone was as smooth as a mirror and had a faint purple hue. Holding it, he could feel a gentle warmth. Within that warmth, a vast and tyrannical aura circulated endlessly, making it seem exceptionally mysterious.

Zhaang Ye had no time to ponder this mysterious aura. He took a light breath, and his body descended like a wisp of Qingyun, slowly returning to the ground from a hundred zhang in the air.

”SWOOSH!”

Everyone in the True Hall fixed their gazes on the Star Luo Stone in Zhaang Ye’s hand. The Hall Masters’ eyes held a trace of curiosity, while the youths’ were filled with envy and jealousy. They wished they could just snatch the Star Luo Stone from Zhaang Ye’s hand and claim it for themselves.

Of course, they could only dream. Not to mention the Hall Masters were present in the True Hall, even if they weren’t, the youths knew they were no match for Zhaang Ye. Though Zhaang Ye was young, the terrifying Computation Power and Comprehension he had just displayed while plucking the star were simply too frightening!

Seeing the looks of awe mixed with envy in the youths’ eyes, Zhaang Ye smiled inwardly. He had managed to smoothly pluck the Central Star this time not only due to his outstanding Body Technique, Comprehension, and Computation Power, but also for another reason: he had a considerable understanding of this Array.

Back when the Great Hall Master had come to comprehend the Ancient Elephant Power, Zhaang Ye had taken the opportunity to devour a small portion of his Innate True Qi. Within that sliver of Innate True Qi were the Great Hall Master’s insights into the Martial Dao.

The Great Hall Master’s greatest expertise was the Array Dao, and that wisp of Innate True Qi happened to contain some of his insights into arrays. It was precisely by obtaining these insights that Zhaang Ye had felt a sense of familiarity with the starry sky inside the True Hall upon entering. And it was also thanks to these insights that he had been able to grasp the movements of the stars and pluck the Central Star.

”Haha, excellent, excellent!” the Fourth Hall Master laughed heartily. ”Zhaang Ye, bring that Star Luo Stone over here. Let this old man see what kind of Cultivation Technique is engraved on it, heheh...”

Zhaang Ye walked over and handed the Star Luo Stone to the Fourth Hall Master.

The Fourth Hall Master examined the Star Luo Stone and nodded slightly. ”Star Luo Stones are exceptionally hard and can last for ten thousand years without decaying. This one, with its purple hue, is a Top Grade among Star Luo Stones. When Ancient Strong People branded their Cultivation Techniques into Top Grade Star Luo Stones, the techniques could be preserved for ten thousand years without fading.”

The Third Hall Master spoke up, ”Old Fourth, stop dawdling. Hurry up and see what kind of Cultivation Technique is inside this Star Stone.”

The Second Hall Master also nodded slightly.

The Cultivation Technique inside this Star Stone was personally branded by the very first Hall Master. The first Hall Master of the True Hall possessed world-shaking strength; even True Dao Experts like them could only look up to him in awe. Therefore, all the Hall Masters were extremely curious about the Cultivation Technique inside the Star Stone.

The Cultivation Technique within a Star Luo Stone was branded using Mental Power. To view the technique, one only needed to infuse it with True Qi. Hearing the Third Hall Master’s urging, the Fourth Hall Master nodded slightly and sent a wisp of Innate True Qi probing into the Star Luo Stone.

”PUFF!”

The moment the Fourth Hall Master’s wisp of Innate True Qi entered the Star Luo Stone, the stone unexpectedly erupted with a faint white light. The Fourth Hall Master felt his Innate True Qi suddenly being crushed by a tyrannical aura!

”Huh!”

The Fourth Hall Master was greatly alarmed. He had spent a hundred years painstakingly tempering his Innate True Qi, having long since cultivated it to a state where it could gather and disperse at will, a perfect balance of hard and soft. He never expected that his Innate True Qi would be instantly destroyed upon entering the Star Luo Stone. This was far beyond his expectations.

Unconvinced, the Fourth Hall Master sent his Innate True Qi into the Star Luo Stone once more. This time, he was prepared for it. But even so, the moment his Innate True Qi entered the stone, it was still instantly crushed. The backlash traveled through his spiritual connection, and the Fourth Hall Master nearly suffered a small injury.

Seeing the Fourth Hall Master’s strange expression, the Third Hall Master asked, ”What is it? What Cultivation Technique is engraved in that Star Luo Stone?”

The Fourth Hall Master handed the Star Luo Stone to the Third Hall Master, frowning. ”This Star Stone seems odd. My Innate True Qi can’t enter it at all. You should try it yourself.”

”Oh? Is that so?” A look of astonishment crossed the Third Hall Master’s face. ”Old Fourth, you’ve been cultivating your Innate True Qi for nearly two hundred years and have long since reached the Innate Third Layer. How can you not even handle a mere Star Luo Stone?”

As he spoke, he took the Star Luo Stone from the Fourth Hall Master’s hand and infused his own Innate True Qi into it.

”PUFF!”

The moment the Third Hall Master’s Innate True Qi entered the Star Luo Stone, a mysterious aura suddenly appeared. Like an ancient behemoth, it brutally slammed into his Innate True Qi. The Third Hall Master’s wisp of Innate True Qi was struck by the mysterious aura and collapsed before he could even react. The scattered Innate True Qi rushed out, creating a soft sound.

”Hm?”

The Third Hall Master let out a soft cry of surprise and once again sent his Innate True Qi into the Star Luo Stone. He was prepared this time as well, but the profundity of that mysterious aura was far beyond his imagination. Although the Third Hall Master was ready, the moment that mysterious aura appeared, his Innate True Qi still instantly collapsed. He didn’t even have time to react.

”Strange, how strange!” The Third Hall Master tried three times, with the same result each time. Helpless, he could only shake his head.

Next, the Second Hall Master and the Great Hall Master each tried once, but neither could do anything about the mysterious aura inside the Star Luo Stone.

The mysterious aura within the Star Luo Stone was like a fiercely loyal servant, silently guarding something. Any aura that dared to intrude would be smashed to pieces by it.

The Great Hall Master shook his head slightly. ”This mysterious aura is far more powerful than our Innate True Qi. With our current strength, we simply cannot overcome this barrier. If we were to risk our lives, we might be able to refine this aura. But in doing so, the Cultivation Technique inside the Star Luo Stone would also be destroyed. It seems we are not fated to see the Cultivation Technique within this stone.”

A trace of regret appeared in the eyes of the Hall Masters. This Star Luo Stone had been left behind by the first Hall Master of the True Hall. The Cultivation Technique inside was undoubtedly extraordinary; it was a true pity to miss out on it like this.

Zhaang Ye was standing right beside the Hall Masters, so he had naturally heard their conversation loud and clear. When he heard that not even the four Hall Masters could see the Cultivation Technique inside the Star Stone, he was stunned. ’If the Hall Masters can’t even see the Cultivation Technique in this Star Luo Stone, and my Cultivation is only at the Late Stage of the Martial Arts Fourth Layer... wanting to see the technique inside is nothing but a dream!’

Sensing Zhaang Ye’s disappointment, the Fourth Hall Master chuckled, tossed the Star Luo Stone back to him, and said, ”You don’t need to worry. These things are a matter of fate and opportunity. Although your strength is low, since you were the one to pluck this Star Luo Stone, you must have an affinity with it. Keep it safe for now. Who knows, when the time is right, you might be able to obtain the Cultivation Technique inside.”

Zhaang Ye could only nod with a wry smile.

At this point, the discipleship ceremony was over. The Great Hall Master, Second Hall Master, and Third Hall Master went back to enter seclusion, and the Fourth Hall Master was also in a hurry to return and comprehend the Ancient Elephant Power. Thus, everyone quickly left the True Hall.

The Fourth Hall Master brought Zhaang Ye back to the small wooden cabin, laughed heartily, and said, ”Now, this old man is officially your master. Alright, circulate your Ancient Elephant Power for me. I want to comprehend its mysteries.”

Zhaang Ye had no choice but to sit down cross-legged and begin circulating the Dragon Elephant Power within his body.

The Fourth Hall Master’s method for comprehending the Elephant Power was identical to the other three Hall Masters’: he sent a wisp of Innate True Qi into Zhaang Ye’s body and used it to silently perceive the mysteries of the Elephant Power. The only difference was that the other three Hall Masters had come to do so in secret, while the Fourth Hall Master was comprehending it openly.

Zhaang Ye didn’t dare to actively devour the Fourth Hall Master’s True Qi. However, even though he wasn’t deliberately trying, his Elephant Power, having successively devoured the Innate True Qi of three Hall Masters, now had an instinctive reaction to invading Innate True Qi. The moment the Fourth Hall Master’s wisp of Innate True Qi entered Zhaang Ye’s body, it was immediately devoured.

”Hm? Good!” Instead of being alarmed that his Innate True Qi was being devoured, the Fourth Hall Master was pleasantly surprised. He let out a soft cry and murmured, ”The Ancient Dragon Power is unpredictable, the ancient Phoenix Power burns the Wilderness to ash, and the Ancient Elephant Power is tyrannical and domineering. This wisp of Elephant Power can even devour my Innate True Qi. So domineering... this is the genuine Ancient Elephant Power!”

The Fourth Hall Master sat with his eyes closed, allowing the Elephant Power to devour his Innate True Qi as he silently comprehended the Ancient Elephant Power within Zhaang Ye’s body. After comprehending for three or four hours, the Fourth Hall Master finally withdrew his Innate True Qi with a satisfied expression.

When he withdrew his wisp of Innate True Qi, a full thirty percent of it was gone. But the Fourth Hall Master didn’t mind this loss in the slightest. After Zhaang Ye finished his Cultivation, he said with satisfaction, ”Good lad. The Elephant Power in your body is the true Ancient Elephant Power! With this wisp of Elephant Power, your Cultivation speed will be much faster in the future.”

After saying this, the Fourth Hall Master chuckled again. ”I need to enter seclusion for a while. It will probably take two or three years. Before I do, you can ask me any questions you have about your Cultivation, and I will answer them one by one. After I’ve answered your questions, I’ll give you a few things to help with your Cultivation. Alright, go ahead and ask whatever you want!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)