Overlord of the Wilderness

The clear voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through all the other noise, reaching everyone’s ears distinctly.

The youths looked over to see a young man in gray robes approaching slowly from a distance. His pace seemed incredibly slow, yet each step covered more than twenty zhang. In just over a dozen steps, he had crossed several hundred zhang to arrive before Zhaang Ye.

This gray-robed young man was none other than Situ Houtu. Unseen for two years, Situ Houtu’s aura was now as vast and powerful as the ocean. As he walked, it felt as if a great wall was bearing down on them. The weaker youths, struck by his aura even from a distance, immediately felt a suffocating pressure.

Zhaang Ye glanced at Situ Houtu and smiled faintly. ”It’s been two years. I never thought Senior Brother Situ’s Cultivation would have already reached the Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer!”

”Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer!” As soon as Zhaang Ye said this, the youths present cried out in astonishment.

Two years ago, Situ Houtu’s Cultivation was still at the Fifth Layer Peak. Generally speaking, reaching the Martial Arts Sixth Layer within two years was already the mark of an incredible genius. For Situ Houtu to break through from the Fifth Layer Peak all the way to the Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer in just two short years—such a Cultivation speed was truly staggering.

”Hm? Junior Brother Zhaang, you have sharp eyes.” Situ Houtu was slightly taken aback, not expecting Zhaang Ye to discern his Cultivation with a single glance.

Normally, a Martial Artist with a higher Cultivation could see the strength of one with a lower Cultivation. Zhaang Ye’s Cultivation was only at the Martial Arts Fifth Layer, yet he could see through Situ Houtu’s strength at a glance. This immediately put Situ Houtu on alert. ’Zhaang Ye saw my Cultivation level in an instant. Could it be that his strength is actually greater than mine?’

Despite his wariness, Situ Houtu had now reached the Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer and had absolute confidence in himself. His gaze fell upon Zhaang Ye as he said slowly, ”Junior Brother Zhaang, your Body Refining Techniques have reached a state of Mastery. I’ve wanted to have a proper battle with you for two years now. Unfortunately, I was busy with Cultivation after joining the sect and never found the chance. Now that we’re finally face to face, let’s have a good contest of our Combat Skills!”

A flicker of fighting spirit flashed in Zhaang Ye’s eyes. He nodded slightly and said, ”Alright!”

Though Situ Houtu’s Cultivation had risen to the Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer in two years, making his strength more than ten times greater, Zhaang Ye had also improved immensely. His Dragon Elephant Skill had reached the Late Fifth Layer, and his Mountain-Breaking Slash had reached the Great Success Realm. Having cultivated to this point, Zhaang Ye was fearless, even with Situ Houtu at the Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer.

SWISH!

A shimmering, cold-gleaming Cyan Light Shovel appeared in Situ Houtu’s hand.

CLANG!

A jet-black Heavy Saber appeared in Zhaang Ye’s hand.

Zhaang Ye and Situ Houtu instantly entered a combat stance. Their weapons faced each other from afar, their gazes clashed, and their auras collided.

As their auras clashed, a strange CRACKLING sound erupted in the empty space between them, as if two enormous, invisible stones were smashing against each other in mid-air.

Situ Houtu’s eyes narrowed slightly. Zhaang Ye’s strength was greater than he had imagined; he was actually unable to overwhelm Zhaang Ye with his aura alone.

But Situ Houtu wasn’t flustered. In the past two years, not only had he elevated his Cultivation to the Mid-stage of the Martial Arts Sixth Layer, but his Heaven Burial Shovel Technique had also seen a breakthrough. He had now nearly cultivated the Earth Burial Technique within it to the Great Success Realm, and his combat prowess was far greater than before.

Moreover, the Cyan Light Shovel in his hand was a First Grade Mortal Artifact with an Array carved into it. When activated with his True Qi, this Array would massively increase his combat strength.

RUMBLE!

Situ Houtu took a step forward. The Cyan Light Shovel in his hand suddenly swung up, transforming into a massive beam of cyan light that shot toward Zhaang Ye.

RUMBLE-WOOOO—

As Situ Houtu thrust his shovel, strange sounds instantly filled the air. The sound was mournful and tragic, and it came without warning. Anyone with a weak Willpower who heard it would likely lose the initiative and be put at a disadvantage.

Sound could be a weapon, but the truly deadly part of the attack was the Cyan Light Shovel itself. It appeared to move slowly but was deceptively fast, arriving in front of Zhaang Ye in an instant. The massive cyan light it generated looked like a ghastly, chilling coffin, ready to swallow Zhaang Ye at any moment.

SWISH!

When Situ Houtu’s Cyan Light Shovel was still a zhang away from Zhaang Ye, the Heavy Saber in Zhaang Ye’s hand suddenly blurred into a black shadow, slamming down hard onto the shovel.

CLANG!

The Cyan Light Shovel and Heavy Saber collided, emitting an incredibly bizarre sound. It was both deeply mournful and strangely enchanting. Upon hearing it, Zhaang Ye felt tragic memories from the depths of his soul being dredged up. An overwhelming sorrow crept over his heart like vines, making him feel weary of life, as if it would be better to just die.

But Zhaang Ye had lived two lives, after all, and his Soul Power was far stronger than his peers’. The moment this sorrowful emotion appeared, he immediately expelled it, and his gaze turned calm in a flash.

Zhaang Ye’s strong Soul Power allowed him to recover quickly from the sorrowful emotion. However, the youths watching from the sidelines had no such ability. After hearing the strange sound from the Cyan Light Shovel, their hearts were instantly filled with Endless Sorrow. A few of the youths with weaker Cultivation and Willpower even burst into tears on the spot.

’I can’t believe Situ Houtu’s shovel can make such a strange sound! There must be something special about it. I’d better press the attack and defeat him before anything else happens!’ After a moment of surprise, Zhaang Ye made his decision. He raised his Heavy Saber and launched a slash at Situ Houtu from a distance.

Just as Zhaang Ye attacked, Situ Houtu struck again as well.

The Shovel Technique Situ Houtu had just displayed was the first move of the Heaven Burial Shovel Technique—the Burial Human Technique. This technique had many wondrous properties. Just now, at the moment of impact, Situ Houtu had used a peculiar method to make his Cyan Light Shovel emit that deeply mournful sound.

The sound from the Cyan Light Shovel had a strange power to shake one’s soul and stir their emotions. Martial Artists weaker than Situ Houtu would be plunged into Endless Sorrow upon hearing it. Even for an opponent of similar strength, their fighting spirit would be severely affected.

Situ Houtu had hoped the sound would affect Zhaang Ye. He never expected Zhaang Ye to instantly shake off the sorrowful emotion and take the initiative to attack. Under the circumstances, Situ Houtu also decided to go on the offensive and end the fight quickly.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Zhaang Ye unleashed Reverse Flow Slash. Each cut was fiercely sharp, the jet-black Saber Qi extending over nine chi long, streaking across the sky like a waterfall and making the air crackle. Situ Houtu used the Burial Human Technique to block five consecutive slashes, and with each block, his arm grew number. He was secretly aghast.

’This Zhaang Ye’s strength is immense! My Burial Human Technique has many subtle uses, but I can’t bring any of them to bear against his raw power. It seems the only way to defeat him is to use the second move of the Heaven Burial Shovel Technique! Even though I haven’t cultivated it to the Great Success Realm yet, it should be enough to deal with Zhaang Ye!’

WHOOSH!

Situ Houtu abruptly retreated several steps and slapped the ground with his Cyan Light Shovel.

BOOM! The solid earth rippled like water where Situ Houtu had struck it. Countless clods of dirt and rock shot up like arrows, flying toward Zhaang Ye. More frighteningly, several faint beams of cyan light shot out from amidst the debris, whipping toward Zhaang Ye’s legs at lightning speed with a piercing shriek.

”Hm?”

Zhaang Ye was slightly startled to see Situ Houtu use the ground itself to attack. He stomped his foot heavily.

With a loud RUMBLE, a Tornado materialized out of thin air at Zhaang Ye’s feet, swallowing all the dirt and rocks.

SWISH! SWISH! Zhaang Ye’s Heavy Saber chopped down sharply, severing the beams of cyan light coiling toward his legs and neutralizing Situ Houtu’s attack.

Situ Houtu’s previous attack had just been a diversion to stall Zhaang Ye. As Zhaang Ye dealt with the beams of light, Situ Houtu’s true attack was finally launched.

WOOOO— Situ Houtu raised his Cyan Light Shovel. A massive shadow of a shovel blade formed at its tip, and a destructive aura instantly locked onto Zhaang Ye. In that moment, Zhaang Ye felt as if he were being targeted by a fearsome viper, a chill running through him from the outside in!

’What a terrifying strike! With Situ Houtu’s strength alone, he shouldn’t be able to generate such a dreadful aura. This power must be coming from the Cyan Light Shovel! There’s definitely something special about that shovel!’ Zhaang Ye, slightly alarmed, dared not hold back any longer and unleashed a sudden slash with his Heavy Saber!

This slash was Zhaang Ye’s Mountain-Breaking Slash.

After cultivating Mountain-Breaking Slash to Great Success, Zhaang Ye had yet to test it at full power. Now, facing Situ Houtu’s terrifying strike, he instinctively unleashed ninety percent of his Dragon Elephant Power. The moment he swung his Heavy Saber, a massive Tornado, faintly rumbling with thunder, materialized out of nowhere and surged toward Situ Houtu.

The instant the Tornado formed, Zhaang Ye’s Heavy Saber, trailing a long streak of Saber Qi, slashed toward Situ Houtu at a speed several times faster than sound.

Situ Houtu’s heart leaped when he saw the power of Zhaang Ye’s attack. But at that same moment, he had also finished preparing his own final strike. Gritting his teeth, Situ Houtu gave his Cyan Light Shovel a slight push!

With that push, RUMBLE! The massive shovel shadow descended on Zhaang Ye like a mountain. While the shadow was still several zhang away, its terrifying aura had already arrived, like an ancient beast opening its massive jaws to take a bite! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)